Drug interactions
Butorphanol + Trazodone
Severity: Moderate
Butorphanol and Trazodone: 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
Trazodone is sedating and can add to the central nervous system and respiratory depression caused by butorphanol. This may cause marked drowsiness, dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, especially in older adults.
What this interaction means in plain words
Butorphanol and Trazodone 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; Trazodone belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through opioid receptor activity and trazodone's antihistaminic and alpha-1 blocking effects.
What to do
Use the lowest effective doses and monitor sedation, blood pressure and respiratory status. Counsel patients to avoid driving and alcohol, and consider dose reduction in older adults.
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 Trazodone
- Arsenic trioxide + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Ibutilide + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Isocarboxazid + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Levoketoconazole + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Trazodone Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Trazodone Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Butorphanol with Trazodone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Butorphanol and Trazodone 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. Trazodone is sedating and can add to the central nervous system and respiratory depression caused by butorphanol. This may cause marked drowsiness, dizziness and orthostatic hypotension, especially in older adults.
How serious is the interaction between Butorphanol and Trazodone?
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 the lowest effective doses and monitor sedation, blood pressure and respiratory status. Counsel patients to avoid driving and alcohol, and consider dose reduction in older adults.
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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