buprenorphine/naloxone vs tramadol
Side-by-side comparison of buprenorphine/naloxone and tramadol. 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: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), triptans, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, drugs that affect the serotonin neurotransmitter system (e.g., mirtazapine, trazodone, tramadol), certain muscle relaxants (i.e., cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone), monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue).
Recommendation: Use this combination only if your doctor says it is necessary and monitors you for serious side effects. Watch for signs of confusion or breathing problems.
Suboxone
Ultram, ConZip
Suboxone film contains buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid dependence as part of a complete treatment plan.
Tramadol extended-release is a strong pain medicine. It is used to treat severe, ongoing pain that needs an opioid medicine when other pain medicines don't work well enough.
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.
Tramadol extended-release tablets are used to manage severe, long-lasting pain. This medicine is for pain that requires an opioid and cannot be treated well with other options. It is not for pain that comes and goes.
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."
Tramadol works in your brain to change how your body feels pain. It binds to opioid receptors and also affects certain chemicals in the brain. This helps to lessen the pain you feel.
- • Mouth numbness
- • Tongue pain
- • Mouth redness
- • Headache
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Headache
- • Feeling sleepy
- Feeling sick to your stomach 138
- Throwing up 92
- Reaction at the injection site 90
- Headache 79
- Problem with the medicine being substituted 73
- Needing the drug to function 7,820
- Taking too much of the drug 3,855
- Throwing up 3,156
- Discomfort 2,880
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,713
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.
Tramadol extended-release tablets can be habit-forming, leading to addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can result in overdose and death. Taking tramadol with other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines can cause very serious side effects, including slowed breathing, coma, and death. Even one dose of tramadol can be fatal, especially in children. Using tramadol for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
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.
Tramadol may harm your unborn baby. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine, as it can pass into breast milk and harm your baby.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare tramadol with
How to Read This buprenorphine/naloxone vs tramadol Comparison
buprenorphine/naloxone is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist / Antagonist drug class, while tramadol sits within the Opioid Analgesic 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 tramadol has 20,424. 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 both of these medicines affect serotonin levels and can cause heavy sedation. this increases the risk of a serious reaction called serotonin syndrome and can make you very sleepy.. 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 tramadol - 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.