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buprenorphine/naloxone vs pregabalin

Side-by-side comparison of buprenorphine/naloxone and pregabalin. 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: Avoid driving or using heavy machinery until you know how this combination affects you, and use the lowest dose possible.

Drug Class
buprenorphine/naloxone Partial Opioid Agonist / Antagonist
pregabalin Anticonvulsant / Nerve Pain Agent
Type
buprenorphine/naloxone Prescription
pregabalin Prescription
Summary
buprenorphine/naloxone

Suboxone film contains buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid dependence as part of a complete treatment plan.

pregabalin

Pregabalin (Lyrica) is a medicine that can help manage nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and partial-onset seizures. It works by calming overactive nerves in your body.

What It Treats
buprenorphine/naloxone

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.

pregabalin

This medicine is used to treat nerve pain caused by diabetes, shingles, or spinal cord injury. It can also help with fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain. Pregabalin can also be used with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures in adults and children as young as 1 month old.

How It Works
buprenorphine/naloxone

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."

pregabalin

Pregabalin works by binding to certain areas in your brain and spinal cord. This action helps to reduce the release of chemicals that send pain signals. By reducing these signals, pregabalin can help to lessen pain and control seizures.

Common Side Effects
buprenorphine/naloxone
  • Mouth numbness
  • Tongue pain
  • Mouth redness
  • Headache
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
pregabalin
  • Dizziness
  • Sleepiness
  • Dry mouth
  • Swelling
  • Blurred vision
FAERS Reports
buprenorphine/naloxone
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 138
  • Throwing up 92
  • Reaction at the injection site 90
  • Headache 79
  • Problem with the medicine being substituted 73
pregabalin
  • Pain 25,904
  • Tiredness 15,111
  • Feeling dizzy 14,526
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 14,050
  • Headache 12,681
Serious Warnings
buprenorphine/naloxone

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.

pregabalin

Pregabalin can cause swelling of the throat, head, and neck, which can be life-threatening. Get emergency help right away if this happens. This medicine can also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Watch for any changes in your mood or behavior. Pregabalin may cause dizziness and sleepiness, so be careful driving or operating machinery. Do not stop taking pregabalin suddenly, as this can cause increased seizures or other side effects.

Pregnancy
buprenorphine/naloxone

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.

pregabalin

Taking pregabalin during pregnancy may slightly increase the risk of birth defects. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine. Breastfeeding while taking pregabalin is not recommended.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare pregabalin with

How to Read This buprenorphine/naloxone vs pregabalin Comparison

buprenorphine/naloxone is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist / Antagonist drug class, while pregabalin 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 pregabalin has 82,272. 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 drugs both slow down your brain and breathing, which can make you very sleepy or cause dangerous breathing issues.. 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 pregabalin - 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.