Drug interactions
Buprenorphine + Clonidine
Severity: Moderate
Buprenorphine and Clonidine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both drugs depress the central nervous system, and clonidine can also cause hypotension and bradycardia. Together they may cause pronounced sedation, hypotension and respiratory depression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buprenorphine and Clonidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Buprenorphine belongs to Musculoskeletal; Clonidine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression and hypotensive effects.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and sedation, and start with low doses. Avoid abrupt clonidine withdrawal and counsel on dizziness.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Buprenorphine
- Alvimopan + Buprenorphine Contraindicated
- Buprenorphine + Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates Contraindicated
- Buprenorphine + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Buprenorphine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Buprenorphine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Buprenorphine + Thioridazine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Clonidine
- Acebutolol + Clonidine Major
- Amifostine + Clonidine Major
- Amiodarone + Clonidine Major
- Amoxapine + Clonidine Major
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Clonidine Major
- Atenolol + Clonidine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buprenorphine with Clonidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Buprenorphine and Clonidine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both drugs depress the central nervous system, and clonidine can also cause hypotension and bradycardia. Together they may cause pronounced sedation, hypotension and respiratory depression.
How serious is the interaction between Buprenorphine and Clonidine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and sedation, and start with low doses. Avoid abrupt clonidine withdrawal and counsel on dizziness.
What other medicines interact with Buprenorphine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Buprenorphine with, for example, Alvimopan, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Olanzapine / samidorphan. The full list is on the Buprenorphine page.
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