acamprosate vs perphenazine

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 perphenazine. 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)
perphenazine Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine)
Type
acamprosate Prescription
perphenazine 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.

perphenazine

Perphenazine is a medicine used to treat schizophrenia and control severe nausea and vomiting. It belongs to a class of drugs called typical antipsychotics.

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.

perphenazine

Perphenazine is used to treat schizophrenia in adults. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that can affect how you think, feel, and behave. This medicine can also help control severe nausea and vomiting in adults.

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.

perphenazine

Perphenazine works by changing the levels of certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, help to regulate mood and behavior. By affecting these chemicals, perphenazine can help reduce symptoms of schizophrenia and control nausea.

Common Side Effects
acamprosate
  • Accidental injury
  • Weakness
  • Pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea
perphenazine
  • Muscle stiffness or spasms
  • Restlessness
  • Slow movements
  • Shaking
  • Weight gain
FAERS Reports
acamprosate
  • Hypotension 14
  • Asthenia 13
  • Condition Aggravated 13
  • Acute Kidney Injury 12
  • Coma 12
perphenazine
  • Toxicity To Various Agents 274
  • Weight Increased 222
  • Akathisia 184
  • Suicide Attempt 180
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 163
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.

perphenazine

This medicine may increase the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis. Perphenazine is not approved to treat dementia-related psychosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks if you are an older adult with dementia.

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.

perphenazine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if perphenazine will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This acamprosate vs perphenazine Comparison

acamprosate is classified in the GABA Analog (Alcohol Dependence) drug class, while perphenazine sits within the Typical Antipsychotic (Phenothiazine) 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 perphenazine has 1,023. 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 perphenazine.

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