Drug interactions
Buprenorphine buccal + Metaxalone
Severity: Major
Buprenorphine buccal and Metaxalone: major 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
Opioids combined with other CNS depressants can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Metaxalone adds to the sedative load with buprenorphine.
What this interaction means in plain words
Buprenorphine buccal and Metaxalone can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive CNS and respiratory depression.
What to do
Use only if no alternatives exist, with the lowest effective doses and limited duration. Monitor respiratory status and sedation, and counsel patients and caregivers on warning signs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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Other interactions of Metaxalone
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Buprenorphine buccal with Metaxalone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Buprenorphine buccal and Metaxalone can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Opioids combined with other CNS depressants can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death. Metaxalone adds to the sedative load with buprenorphine.
How serious is the interaction between Buprenorphine buccal and Metaxalone?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use only if no alternatives exist, with the lowest effective doses and limited duration. Monitor respiratory status and sedation, and counsel patients and caregivers on warning signs.
What other medicines interact with Metaxalone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Metaxalone with, for example, Alfentanil, Belladonna and opium, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen. The full list is on the Metaxalone page.
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