Antabuse vs. Vivitrol

• Are Antabuse and Vivitrol the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Antabuse?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Vivitrol?
• What Is Antabuse?
• What Is Vivitrol?
• What Drugs Interact with Antabuse?
• What Drugs Interact with Vivitrol?
• How Should Antabuse Be Taken?
• How Should Vivitrol Be Taken?

Antabuse (disulfiram) and Vivitrol (naltrexone) are used to treat chronic alcoholism.

Vivitrol is also used to prevent relapse to opioid dependence.

Antabuse and Vivitrol belong to different drug classes. Antabuse is an alcohol antagonist and Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist.

Common side effects of Antabuse include:

• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• headache,
• metallic or garlic-like taste in the mouth,
• skin rash or acne,
• impotence, and
• swollen or sore tongue.

Tell your doctor if you have a unlikely but serious side effects of Antabuse including:

• vision changes,
• numbness or tingling of arms and legs,
• muscle weakness,
• mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, extreme excitement/confusion), or
• seizures.

Common side effects of Vivitrol include:

• nausea,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• anxiety,
• nervousness,
• restlessness,
• irritability,
• tiredness,
• loss of appetite,
• increased thirst,
• muscle or joint aches,
• weakness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Antabuse (disulfiram) is an alcohol antagonist drug used to treat chronic alcoholism. Antabuse is available in generic form.

Vivitrol (naltrexone) for Extended-Release Injectable Suspension is an opioid antagonist used to treat alcohol dependence and prevent relapse to opioid dependence.

Antabuse may interact with isoniazid, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, warfarin, metronidazole, theophylline, phenytoin, or lithium. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. During pregnancy, Antabuse should be used only when prescribed.

Vivitrol may interact with narcotic pain medications including buprenorphine, butorphanol, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, nalbuphine, naloxone, oxycodone, oxymorphone, or propoxyphene. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you take. Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while taking Vivitrol. Exercise caution if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert while taking Vivitrol.

In the first phase of treatment, a maximum of 500 mg of Antabuse daily is given in a single dose for one to two weeks. The average maintenance dose of Antabuse is 250 mg daily (range, 125 to 500 mg), not to exceed 500 mg daily. Do not drink alcohol and avoid all alcohol-containing products (e.g., cough and cold syrups, mouthwash, or foods containing alcohol) while taking this medication.

The recommended dosage of Vivitrol is 380 mg taken once a month. Vivitrol must be administered under a doctor's supervision.