Nubain Side Effects

Generic name: nalbuphine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 28, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Nubain Side Effects associated with nalbuphine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Nubain.

Applies to nalbuphine: injection solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to use it.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that can make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, other prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the other medicines listed above while you are using this medicine.

Symptoms of an overdose include extreme dizziness or weakness, slow heartbeat or breathing, seizures, trouble breathing, and cold, clammy skin. Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms.

This medicine may cause sleep-related breathing problems (eg, sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoxemia). Your doctor may decrease your dose if you have sleep apnea (stop breathing for short periods during sleep) while using this medicine.

This medicine may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help lessen this problem. Also, lying down for a while may relieve dizziness or lightheadedness.

This medicine may make you dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.

Using narcotics for a long time can cause severe constipation. To prevent this, your doctor may direct you to take laxatives, drink a lot of fluids, or increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Be sure to follow the directions carefully, because continuing constipation can lead to more serious problems.

Do not change your dose or suddenly stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the amount of medicine given to you before stopping it completely. This may help prevent worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, such as abdominal or stomach cramps, anxiety, fever, nausea, runny nose, sweating, tremors, or trouble with sleeping.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk may be higher if you also take certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in your body.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant may cause neonatal withdrawal syndrome in your newborn babies. Tell your doctor right away if your baby has an abnormal sleep pattern, diarrhea, a high-pitched cry, irritability, shakiness or tremors, weight loss, vomiting, or fails to gain weight.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Common side effects of Nubain

Some side effects of nalbuphine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Serious side effects of Nubain

Along with its needed effects, nalbuphine (the active ingredient contained in Nubain) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking nalbuphine:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to nalbuphine: compounding powder, injectable solution.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported adverse reaction is sedation. Less frequently reported events have included sweaty/clammy, nausea/vomiting, dizziness/vertigo, dry mouth, and headache.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid, other serious hypersensitivity reactions and other allergic type reactions.^[Ref]

Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid and other serious hypersensitivity reactions, including fatalities have been reported. Serious allergic reactions may include shock, respiratory distress, respiratory arrest, bradycardia, cardiac arrest, hypotension, or laryngeal edema. Other allergic type reactions reported have include stridor, bronchospasm, wheezing, edema, rash, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, weakness, and shakiness.^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Depression, dyspnea, asthma^[Ref]

Depression, dyspnea, and asthma have been reported in less than 1% of patients.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Hypertension, hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia, fetal death^[Ref]

Hypertension, hypotension, bradycardia, and tachycardia have been reported in less than 1% of patients.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Sedation (36%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache
• Frequency not reported: Confusion, faintness, numbness, tingling
• Postmarketing reports: Serotonin syndrome^[Ref]

Confusion, faintness, numbness, and tingling have been reported in less than 1%. Postmarketing reports of serotonin syndrome have been reported during concomitant use of opioids with serotonergic drugs.^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Nervousness, depression, restlessness, crying, euphoria, floating, hostility, unusual dreams, dysphoria, unreality

Nervousness, depression, restlessness, crying, euphoria, floating, hostility, unusual dreams, dysphoria, and unreality have been reported in less than 1% of patients. The incidence of psychotomimetic effects has been reported to be less than that which occur with pentazocine.

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea/vomiting, dry mouth
• Frequency not reported: Cramps, dyspepsia, bitter taste^[Ref]

Cramps, dyspepsia, and bitter taste have been reported in less than 1% of patients.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Sweaty/clammy
• Frequency not reported: Itching, burning, urticaria^[Ref]

Itching, burning, and urticaria have been reported in less than 1% of patients.^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Vertigo
• Frequency not reported: Speech difficulty, flushing and warmth^[Ref]

Speech difficulty, flushing and warmth have been reported in less than 1% of patients.^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Blurred vision^[Ref]

Blurred vision has been reported in less than 1% of patients.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Urinary urgency^[Ref]

Urinary urgency has been reported in less than 1% of patients.^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Postmarketing reports: Adrenal insufficiency

There have been postmarketing reports of adrenal insufficiency in patients taking opioids, generally for longer than 1 month.

See also:

Further information

Nubain side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer