buprenorphine/naloxone vs carbamazepine
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of buprenorphine/naloxone and carbamazepine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Examples: Rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin Antiretrovirals: Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) Clinical Impact: Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are metabolized principally by CYP3A4.
Suboxone
Tegretol
Suboxone film contains buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid dependence as part of a complete treatment plan.
Carbamazepine is a medicine used to control seizures and treat nerve pain. It works by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain and calming nerve signals.
Suboxone film is used to treat opioid dependence. Opioid dependence means you are addicted to opioid drugs. This medicine should be used with counseling and support.
Carbamazepine is used to treat certain types of seizures, including partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It can also treat mixed seizure patterns. Carbamazepine also treats the pain from trigeminal neuralgia, a nerve disorder that causes intense facial pain. It is also sometimes used for glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it has some opioid effects. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which blocks the effects of opioids. Together, they help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without causing a strong "high."
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant. It works by reducing the spread of seizure activity in the brain. It also stabilizes nerve impulses to reduce pain.
- • Mouth numbness
- • Tongue pain
- • Mouth redness
- • Headache
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Dizziness
- • Drowsiness
- • Unsteadiness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- Feeling sick to your stomach 138
- Throwing up 92
- Reaction at the injection site 90
- Headache 79
- Problem with the medicine being substituted 73
- Seizure 3,609
- Drug Interaction 3,369
- Fall 3,044
- Dizziness 2,862
- Pyrexia 2,689
Buprenorphine can be abused, like other opioids. Taking Suboxone with other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines can cause serious breathing problems, coma, or death. Keep Suboxone out of the reach of children, as it can cause severe breathing problems and death if they take it. Using opioids for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
Carbamazepine can cause severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal. If you are of Asian descent, you may need a blood test before starting this medicine. Carbamazepine can also cause serious blood problems like aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis. Contact your doctor right away if you develop a fever, sore throat, rash, or unusual bleeding or bruising.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. Using Suboxone during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. Buprenorphine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
Carbamazepine may harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if carbamazepine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding.
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How to Read This buprenorphine/naloxone vs carbamazepine Comparison
buprenorphine/naloxone is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist / Antagonist drug class, while carbamazepine sits within the Anticonvulsant class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, buprenorphine/naloxone has 472 submissions while carbamazepine has 15,573. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to carbamazepine speeds up how quickly your body gets rid of buprenorphine, which can make the treatment less effective.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for buprenorphine/naloxone or carbamazepine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.