Drug interactions
Buprenorphine + Sufentanil
Severity: Moderate
Buprenorphine and Sufentanil: 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
Buprenorphine is a high-affinity partial agonist that can displace full agonists such as sufentanil from the mu receptor. In opioid-dependent patients this may precipitate withdrawal, and in others it may reduce analgesia, while additive sedation and respiratory depression remain possible.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buprenorphine and Sufentanil 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; Sufentanil belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Competition at mu-opioid receptors between a partial agonist and a full agonist, plus additive opioid CNS depression.
What to do
In the perioperative setting, continue buprenorphine where feasible and titrate sufentanil to effect with continuous respiratory monitoring. Watch for withdrawal in dependent patients and for inadequate analgesia.
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 Sufentanil
- Alprazolam + Sufentanil Major
- Amitriptyline + Sufentanil Major
- Amobarbital + Sufentanil Major
- Aripiprazole + Sufentanil Major
- Asenapine + Sufentanil Major
- Baclofen + Sufentanil Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buprenorphine with Sufentanil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Buprenorphine and Sufentanil 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 is a high-affinity partial agonist that can displace full agonists such as sufentanil from the mu receptor. In opioid-dependent patients this may precipitate withdrawal, and in others it may reduce analgesia, while additive sedation and respiratory depression remain possible.
How serious is the interaction between Buprenorphine and Sufentanil?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: In the perioperative setting, continue buprenorphine where feasible and titrate sufentanil to effect with continuous respiratory monitoring. Watch for withdrawal in dependent patients and for inadequate analgesia.
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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