Drug interactions
Butorphanol + Olanzapine / samidorphan
Severity: Contraindicated
Butorphanol and Olanzapine / samidorphan: contraindicated 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
Samidorphan is an opioid antagonist that blocks butorphanol's analgesic effect. In opioid-dependent patients it may precipitate acute withdrawal.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butorphanol and Olanzapine / samidorphan are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Why it happens
Samidorphan antagonizes opioid receptors, opposing the effect of butorphanol.
What to do
Avoid the combination; follow the labeled opioid-free interval (7 days for short-acting, 14 days for long-acting opioids) before starting. Use non-opioid analgesics during treatment.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Butorphanol
- Butorphanol + Sodium oxybate Contraindicated
- Alfentanil + Butorphanol Major
- Alprazolam + Butorphanol Major
- Alvimopan + Butorphanol Major
- Amobarbital + Butorphanol Major
- Belladonna and opium + Butorphanol Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Butorphanol with Olanzapine / samidorphan?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Butorphanol and Olanzapine / samidorphan are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Samidorphan is an opioid antagonist that blocks butorphanol's analgesic effect. In opioid-dependent patients it may precipitate acute withdrawal.
How serious is the interaction between Butorphanol and Olanzapine / samidorphan?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination; follow the labeled opioid-free interval (7 days for short-acting, 14 days for long-acting opioids) before starting. Use non-opioid analgesics during treatment.
What other medicines interact with Butorphanol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Butorphanol with, for example, Sodium oxybate, Alfentanil, Alprazolam. The full list is on the Butorphanol page.
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