buprenorphine/naloxone vs erythromycin
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 erythromycin. 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: Macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin), azole-antifungal agents (e.g.
Suboxone
E-Mycin, Ery-Tab
Suboxone film contains buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid dependence as part of a complete treatment plan.
Erythromycin Topical Solution is a medicine that you put on your skin to treat acne. It contains an antibiotic to help clear up your skin.
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.
Erythromycin Topical Solution treats acne vulgaris. This medicine helps to reduce acne on your face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. It works by fighting the bacteria that cause acne.
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."
Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to reduce inflammation and clear up acne.
- • Mouth numbness
- • Tongue pain
- • Mouth redness
- • Headache
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Peeling
- • Dryness
- • Itching
- • Redness
- • Oily skin
- Feeling sick to your stomach 138
- Throwing up 92
- Reaction at the injection site 90
- Headache 79
- Problem with the medicine being substituted 73
- Drug Hypersensitivity 4,088
- Nausea 1,271
- Vomiting 1,121
- Diarrhoea 1,069
- Dyspnoea 1,023
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.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
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.
It is not known if erythromycin topical solution can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
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How to Read This buprenorphine/naloxone vs erythromycin Comparison
buprenorphine/naloxone is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist / Antagonist drug class, while erythromycin sits within the Macrolide Antibiotic 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 erythromycin has 8,572. 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 erythromycin blocks the enzymes that clear buprenorphine from your body, causing the drug to stay in your system longer.. 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 erythromycin.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.