acamprosate vs fluvoxamine

PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.

Side-by-side comparison of acamprosate and fluvoxamine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
acamprosate GABA Analog (Alcohol Dependence)
fluvoxamine Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Type
acamprosate Prescription
fluvoxamine Prescription
Summary
acamprosate

Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking. It should be used with counseling and support.

fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine is a medicine that can help treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

What It Treats
acamprosate

Acamprosate helps people who are alcohol-dependent to not drink alcohol. You must have already stopped drinking before you start taking acamprosate. This medicine works best when it is part of a complete treatment plan that includes counseling and support.

fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD involves having constant, unwanted thoughts or behaviors that you feel the need to repeat. These thoughts or actions can cause you distress and interfere with your daily life.

How It Works
acamprosate

Acamprosate is similar to a natural substance in your brain. It is thought to work by helping to restore the normal balance of brain activity that is changed by long-term alcohol use. This can reduce your craving for alcohol.

fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood. By increasing serotonin, fluvoxamine can help reduce the symptoms of OCD.

Common Side Effects
acamprosate
  • Accidental injury
  • Weakness
  • Pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea
fluvoxamine
  • Abnormal ejaculation
  • Loss of appetite
  • Problems having an orgasm
  • Weakness
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
acamprosate
  • Hypotension 14
  • Asthenia 13
  • Condition Aggravated 13
  • Acute Kidney Injury 12
  • Coma 12
fluvoxamine
  • Drug Interaction 215
  • Nausea 117
  • Somnolence 114
  • Anxiety 103
  • Suicidal Ideation 96
Serious Warnings
acamprosate

Acamprosate may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Your doctor should watch you for depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts.

fluvoxamine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teenagers, and young adults. Tell your doctor right away if you have any sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, especially if they are new, get worse, or worry you. Watch for suicidal thoughts or actions. Families and caregivers should also be aware of these risks.

Pregnancy
acamprosate

Acamprosate may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if acamprosate passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

fluvoxamine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Fluvoxamine may cause problems for the baby if taken during pregnancy. Fluvoxamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This acamprosate vs fluvoxamine Comparison

acamprosate is classified in the GABA Analog (Alcohol Dependence) drug class, while fluvoxamine sits within the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, acamprosate has 64 submissions while fluvoxamine has 645. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for acamprosate or fluvoxamine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.