Drug Interactions between butorphanol and codeine
This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:
- butorphanol
- codeine
Interactions between your drugs
codeine butorphanol
Applies to: codeine and butorphanol
GENERALLY AVOID: Concomitant use of opioids with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants including mixed agonist-antagonist or partial agonist opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. The risk of hypotension may also be increased. On the other hand, mixed agonist-antagonist or partial agonist opioids can reduce the pharmacologic effects of other opioid agonists. Reduced efficacy or withdrawal symptoms may occur in patients maintained on their opioid regimen following the addition of a mixed agonist-antagonist or partial agonist opioid.
MANAGEMENT: The use of opioids in conjunction with other CNS depressants including mixed agonist-antagonist or partial agonist opioids should generally be avoided unless alternative treatment options are inadequate. If coadministration is necessary (e.g., when initiating a switch from one opioid to the other), the dosage and duration of each drug should be limited to the minimum required to achieve desired clinical effect, and patients should be closely monitored for signs and symptoms of CNS and respiratory depression. Additional caution is advisable when a mixed agonist-antagonist or partial agonist opioid is added to an existing opioid regimen, as there may be an increased risk of withdrawal symptoms (e.g., restlessness, insomnia, sweating, lacrimation, or rhinorrhea) following initiation of the mixed agonist-antagonist or partial agonist opioid. A dosage adjustment for one or both drugs may be required.
References (11)
- Moldenhauer CC, Roach GW, Finlayson DC, et al. (1985) "Nalbuphine antagonism of ventilatory depression following high-dose fentanyl anesthesia." Anesthesiology, 62, p. 647-50
- Gilman AG, eds., Nies AS, Rall TW, Taylor P (1990) "Goodman and Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics." New York, NY: Pergamon Press Inc.
- Strain EC, Preston KL, Liebson IA, Bigelow GE (1993) "Precipitated withdrawal by pentazocine in methadone-maintained volunteers." J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 267, p. 624-34
- (2001) "Product Information. Nubain (nalbuphine)." Endo Laboratories LLC
- (2001) "Product Information. Buprenex (buprenorphine)." Reckitt and Colman Pharmaceuticals Inc
- (2001) "Product Information. Talwin NX (pentazocine)." Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals
- (2001) "Product Information. Stadol (butorphanol)." Allscrips Pharmaceutical Company
- (2001) "Product Information. Dalgan (dezocine)." Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals
- (2002) "Product Information. Suboxone (buprenorphine-naloxone)." Reckitt and Colman Pharmaceuticals Inc
- (2002) "Product Information. Subutex (buprenorphine)." Reckitt and Colman Pharmaceuticals Inc
- (2010) "Product Information. Butrans (buprenorphine)." Purdue Pharma LP
Drug and food/lifestyle interactions
codeine food/lifestyle
Applies to: codeine
GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate the central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects of opioid analgesics. Concomitant use may result in additive CNS depression and impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In more severe cases, hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, or even death may occur. In addition, alcohol may affect opioid release from sustained-release formulations.
GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit or grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of opioid analgesics by inhibiting CYP450 3A4-mediated metabolism of these agents, although the interaction has not been studied. In general, the effect of grapefruit juice is concentration-, dose- and preparation-dependent, and can vary widely among brands. Certain preparations of grapefruit juice (e.g., high dose, double strength) have sometimes demonstrated potent inhibition of CYP450 3A4, while other preparations (e.g., low dose, single strength) have typically demonstrated moderate inhibition. Pharmacokinetic interactions involving grapefruit juice are also subject to a high degree of interpatient variability, thus the extent to which a given patient may be affected is difficult to predict.
MANAGEMENT: Patients should not consume alcoholic beverages or use drug products that contain alcohol during treatment with opioid analgesics. Any history of alcohol or illicit drug use should be considered when prescribing an opioid analgesic, and therapy initiated at a lower dosage if necessary. Patients should be closely monitored for signs and symptoms of sedation, respiratory depression, and hypotension. Due to a high degree of interpatient variability with respect to grapefruit juice interactions, patients treated with opioid analgesics should preferably avoid the consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
References (18)
- (2017) "Product Information. Alfentanil Hydrochloride (alfentanil)." Akorn Inc
- (2024) "Product Information. TraMADol Hydrochloride (traMADol)." Advagen Pharma Ltd
- (2024) "Product Information. Jamp Tramadol (tramadol)." Jamp Pharma Corporation
- (2025) "Product Information. Tramadol (tramadol)." Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc
- (2024) "Product Information. Tramedo (tRAMadol)." Alphapharm Pty Ltd
- (2022) "Product Information. Alfentanil (alfentanil)." Hameln Pharma Ltd
- (2024) "Product Information. Butorphanol Tartrate (butorphanol)." Apotex Corporation
- (2024) "Product Information. Codeine Sulfate (codeine)." Lannett Company Inc
- (2024) "Product Information. Meperidine Hydrochloride (meperidine)." Genus Lifesciences Inc.
- (2023) "Product Information. Dsuvia (SUFentanil)." AcelRx Pharmaceuticals
- (2024) "Product Information. Dzuveo (sufentanil)." Aguettant Ltd
- (2025) "Product Information. Pethidine (pethidine)." Martindale Pharmaceuticals Ltd
- (2023) "Product Information. Meperidine Hydrochloride (meperidine)." Sandoz Canada Incorporated
- (2024) "Product Information. Pethidine (Juno) (pethidine)." Juno Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
- Cherrier MM, Shen DD, Shireman L, et al. (2021) "Elevated customary alcohol consumption attenuates opioid effects." Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 4, p. 1-27
- Fuhr LM, Marok FZ, Fuhr U, Selzer D, Lehr T (2023) "Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of bergamottin and 6,7-dihydroxybergamottin to describe CYP3A4 mediated grapefruit-drug interactions." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 114, p. 470-82
- (2025) "Product Information. TraMADol Hydrochloride ER (traMADol)." Trigen Laboratories Inc
- (2025) "Product Information. Codeine Contin (codeine)." Purdue Pharma
butorphanol food/lifestyle
Applies to: butorphanol
GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate the central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects of opioid analgesics. Concomitant use may result in additive CNS depression and impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In more severe cases, hypotension, respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, or even death may occur. In addition, alcohol may affect opioid release from sustained-release formulations.
GENERALLY AVOID: Grapefruit or grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of opioid analgesics by inhibiting CYP450 3A4-mediated metabolism of these agents, although the interaction has not been studied. In general, the effect of grapefruit juice is concentration-, dose- and preparation-dependent, and can vary widely among brands. Certain preparations of grapefruit juice (e.g., high dose, double strength) have sometimes demonstrated potent inhibition of CYP450 3A4, while other preparations (e.g., low dose, single strength) have typically demonstrated moderate inhibition. Pharmacokinetic interactions involving grapefruit juice are also subject to a high degree of interpatient variability, thus the extent to which a given patient may be affected is difficult to predict.
MANAGEMENT: Patients should not consume alcoholic beverages or use drug products that contain alcohol during treatment with opioid analgesics. Any history of alcohol or illicit drug use should be considered when prescribing an opioid analgesic, and therapy initiated at a lower dosage if necessary. Patients should be closely monitored for signs and symptoms of sedation, respiratory depression, and hypotension. Due to a high degree of interpatient variability with respect to grapefruit juice interactions, patients treated with opioid analgesics should preferably avoid the consumption of grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
References (18)
- (2017) "Product Information. Alfentanil Hydrochloride (alfentanil)." Akorn Inc
- (2024) "Product Information. TraMADol Hydrochloride (traMADol)." Advagen Pharma Ltd
- (2024) "Product Information. Jamp Tramadol (tramadol)." Jamp Pharma Corporation
- (2025) "Product Information. Tramadol (tramadol)." Sigma Pharmaceuticals Plc
- (2024) "Product Information. Tramedo (tRAMadol)." Alphapharm Pty Ltd
- (2022) "Product Information. Alfentanil (alfentanil)." Hameln Pharma Ltd
- (2024) "Product Information. Butorphanol Tartrate (butorphanol)." Apotex Corporation
- (2024) "Product Information. Codeine Sulfate (codeine)." Lannett Company Inc
- (2024) "Product Information. Meperidine Hydrochloride (meperidine)." Genus Lifesciences Inc.
- (2023) "Product Information. Dsuvia (SUFentanil)." AcelRx Pharmaceuticals
- (2024) "Product Information. Dzuveo (sufentanil)." Aguettant Ltd
- (2025) "Product Information. Pethidine (pethidine)." Martindale Pharmaceuticals Ltd
- (2023) "Product Information. Meperidine Hydrochloride (meperidine)." Sandoz Canada Incorporated
- (2024) "Product Information. Pethidine (Juno) (pethidine)." Juno Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
- Cherrier MM, Shen DD, Shireman L, et al. (2021) "Elevated customary alcohol consumption attenuates opioid effects." Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 4, p. 1-27
- Fuhr LM, Marok FZ, Fuhr U, Selzer D, Lehr T (2023) "Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of bergamottin and 6,7-dihydroxybergamottin to describe CYP3A4 mediated grapefruit-drug interactions." Clin Pharmacol Ther, 114, p. 470-82
- (2025) "Product Information. TraMADol Hydrochloride ER (traMADol)." Trigen Laboratories Inc
- (2025) "Product Information. Codeine Contin (codeine)." Purdue Pharma
Therapeutic duplication warnings
No warnings were found for your selected drugs.
Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.
See also
Drug Interaction Classification
Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit. | |
Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances. | |
Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan. | |
No interaction information available. |
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.