Drug interactions
Buprenorphine + Doxylamine
Severity: Moderate
Buprenorphine and Doxylamine: 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
Doxylamine is a markedly sedating antihistamine that can potentiate buprenorphine's sedative effects. This may cause excessive drowsiness and impaired coordination.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buprenorphine and Doxylamine 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; Doxylamine belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from opioid agonism and central H1 antagonism.
What to do
Monitor for oversedation and advise against driving or operating machinery. Avoid using doxylamine as a routine sleep aid in patients on buprenorphine.
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 Doxylamine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buprenorphine with Doxylamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Buprenorphine and Doxylamine 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. Doxylamine is a markedly sedating antihistamine that can potentiate buprenorphine's sedative effects. This may cause excessive drowsiness and impaired coordination.
How serious is the interaction between Buprenorphine and Doxylamine?
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 for oversedation and advise against driving or operating machinery. Avoid using doxylamine as a routine sleep aid in patients on buprenorphine.
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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