Does Buprenorphine Interact with Naloxone Hydrochloride?
CDI records a major classification for Buprenorphine and Naloxone Hydrochloride. The stored summary is: Large doses of naloxone required to antagonize buprenorphine due to its long duration of action and slow dissociation from opioid receptor. Antagonism characterized by gradual onset and decreased duration of effect. The mechanism involves buprenorphine's slow binding and dissociation from opioid receptor. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Major
- Buprenorphine Class
- Partial Opioid Agonist
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Buprenorphine's slow binding and dissociation from opioid receptor
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Buprenorphine and your doctor is considering prescribing Naloxone Hydrochloride (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider