buprenorphine/naloxone vs gabapentin
Side-by-side comparison of buprenorphine/naloxone and gabapentin. 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: Alcohol, benzodiazepines and other sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), and other opioids.
Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor you closely for slowed breathing or extreme sleepiness. Avoid this combination unless your doctor says it is necessary.
Suboxone
Neurontin, Gralise
Suboxone film contains buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid dependence as part of a complete treatment plan.
Gabapentin is a medicine that can treat nerve pain and seizures. It works by calming overactive nerves in the body.
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.
Gabapentin is used to manage nerve pain after shingles in adults. This is called postherpetic neuralgia. It is also used with other medicines to treat partial seizures in adults and children ages 3 and older who have epilepsy.
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."
Gabapentin affects how nerves send signals to the brain. It is thought to work by decreasing the activity of overexcited nerve cells. This can reduce pain and prevent seizures.
- • Mouth numbness
- • Tongue pain
- • Mouth redness
- • Headache
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Dizziness
- • Sleepiness
- • Swelling in arms and legs
- • Uncoordinated movements
- • Tiredness
- Feeling sick to your stomach 138
- Throwing up 92
- Reaction at the injection site 90
- Headache 79
- Problem with the medicine being substituted 73
- Tiredness 24,395
- Feeling sick to your stomach 21,942
- Aches and discomfort 20,748
- Loose or watery stools 17,456
- Pain in your head 17,287
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.
This medicine can cause a severe allergic reaction with fever, rash, and organ problems. Stop taking gabapentin and get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how gabapentin affects you. Do not stop taking gabapentin suddenly, as this may increase seizures. Gabapentin may cause suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch for changes in mood or behavior. Using gabapentin with opioid medicines can cause very slow breathing, sedation, and death. Children ages 3 to 12 may have new or worsening behavior problems.
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.
Gabapentin may cause harm to an unborn baby based on animal studies. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. Gabapentin passes into breast milk. The effects on a nursing baby are not known.
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How to Read This buprenorphine/naloxone vs gabapentin Comparison
buprenorphine/naloxone is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist / Antagonist drug class, while gabapentin sits within the Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent 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 gabapentin has 101,828. 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 these medicines are both sedatives that can slow down your breathing and brain activity. using them together makes these side effects much stronger and more dangerous.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between buprenorphine/naloxone and gabapentin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.