Drug interactions
Buprenorphine + Venlafaxine
Severity: Moderate
Buprenorphine and Venlafaxine: 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
Venlafaxine can prolong the QT interval at higher doses and both drugs are serotonergic, so serotonin syndrome is a rare risk. Buprenorphine may add a minor QT effect.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buprenorphine and Venlafaxine 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; Venlafaxine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive serotonergic activity and possible additive QT prolongation.
What to do
Monitor for serotonin toxicity such as agitation, clonus and hyperthermia, and check an ECG with high venlafaxine doses or other QT risk factors.
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 Venlafaxine
- Isocarboxazid + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Procarbazine + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
- Safinamide + Venlafaxine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buprenorphine with Venlafaxine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Buprenorphine and Venlafaxine 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. Venlafaxine can prolong the QT interval at higher doses and both drugs are serotonergic, so serotonin syndrome is a rare risk. Buprenorphine may add a minor QT effect.
How serious is the interaction between Buprenorphine and Venlafaxine?
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 serotonin toxicity such as agitation, clonus and hyperthermia, and check an ECG with high venlafaxine doses or other QT risk factors.
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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