Drug interactions
Buprenorphine + Loxapine
Severity: Moderate
Buprenorphine and Loxapine: 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
Loxapine is a sedating antipsychotic that can add to buprenorphine's CNS depression and hypotension. Oral loxapine may cause marked drowsiness, and the inhaled form carries respiratory risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buprenorphine and Loxapine 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; Loxapine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression.
What to do
Monitor sedation, respiratory status and blood pressure, and use the lowest effective doses. Avoid inhaled loxapine in patients with significant respiratory disease on opioids.
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 Loxapine
- Alfentanil + Loxapine Major
- Alprazolam + Loxapine Major
- Amisulpride + Loxapine Major
- Amoxapine + Loxapine Major
- Apomorphine + Loxapine Major
- Belladonna and opium + Loxapine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buprenorphine with Loxapine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Buprenorphine and Loxapine 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. Loxapine is a sedating antipsychotic that can add to buprenorphine's CNS depression and hypotension. Oral loxapine may cause marked drowsiness, and the inhaled form carries respiratory risk.
How serious is the interaction between Buprenorphine and Loxapine?
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 sedation, respiratory status and blood pressure, and use the lowest effective doses. Avoid inhaled loxapine in patients with significant respiratory disease on opioids.
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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