Drug interactions
Butorphanol + Fluphenazine
Severity: Moderate
Butorphanol and Fluphenazine: 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
Both drugs can depress the central nervous system, and together they may cause increased sedation, hypotension and slowed psychomotor function. Fluphenazine is less sedating than some antipsychotics, but the additive risk remains.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butorphanol and Fluphenazine 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.
Butorphanol belongs to Musculoskeletal; Fluphenazine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression from opioid activity and dopamine-antagonist antipsychotic effects with antihistaminic and alpha-blocking properties.
What to do
Use lower initial butorphanol doses and monitor sedation, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Advise patients to avoid driving until the response is known.
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 Butorphanol
- Butorphanol + Olanzapine / samidorphan Contraindicated
- Butorphanol + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Butorphanol Major
- Alprazolam + Butorphanol Major
- Alvimopan + Butorphanol Major
- Amobarbital + Butorphanol Major
Other interactions of Fluphenazine
- Arsenic trioxide + Fluphenazine Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Fluphenazine Contraindicated
- Fluphenazine + Ibutilide Contraindicated
- Fluphenazine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Adagrasib + Fluphenazine Major
- Alfentanil + Fluphenazine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Butorphanol with Fluphenazine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Butorphanol and Fluphenazine 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. Both drugs can depress the central nervous system, and together they may cause increased sedation, hypotension and slowed psychomotor function. Fluphenazine is less sedating than some antipsychotics, but the additive risk remains.
How serious is the interaction between Butorphanol and Fluphenazine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Use lower initial butorphanol doses and monitor sedation, blood pressure and respiratory rate. Advise patients to avoid driving until the response is known.
What other medicines interact with Butorphanol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Butorphanol with, for example, Olanzapine / samidorphan, Sodium oxybate, Alfentanil. The full list is on the Butorphanol page.
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