buprenorphine (pain) 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 (pain) 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., ketoconazole), protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir) CYP3A4 Inducers Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of BELBUCA and CYP3A4 inducers can decrease the plasma concentration of buprenorphine [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] , potentially resulting in decreased efficacy or onset of a withdrawal syndrome in patients who have developed physical dependence to buprenorphine.
Belbuca, Butrans
E-Mycin, Ery-Tab
Belbuca is a medicine used to treat severe, long-lasting pain. It contains buprenorphine, a type of opioid pain reliever.
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.
Belbuca is used to manage severe, ongoing pain that needs an opioid medicine. It is for pain that cannot be well-treated with other options, like immediate-release opioids. Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, misuse, overdose, and death, Belbuca should only be used if other treatments don't work, aren't tolerated, or aren't enough to manage your pain.
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.
Belbuca contains buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid agonist. It works by attaching to certain receptors in the brain and body. This helps to decrease the feeling of pain.
Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to reduce inflammation and clear up acne.
- • Nausea
- • Constipation
- • Headache
- • Vomiting
- • Dizziness
- • Peeling
- • Dryness
- • Itching
- • Redness
- • Oily skin
No adverse event reports.
- Drug Hypersensitivity 4,088
- Nausea 1,271
- Vomiting 1,121
- Diarrhoea 1,069
- Dyspnoea 1,023
Belbuca can lead to addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can result in overdose and death. It can also cause serious, life-threatening breathing problems, especially when you first start taking it or after a dose increase. Accidental exposure, especially in children, can be fatal. Taking Belbuca with benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Valium) or other depressants (including alcohol) can cause severe sleepiness, breathing problems, coma, and death. If you are pregnant and use Belbuca for a long time, your baby could have withdrawal symptoms after birth.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Using Belbuca for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Breastfeeding is not recommended while using Belbuca.
It is not known if erythromycin topical solution can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This buprenorphine (pain) vs erythromycin Comparison
buprenorphine (pain) is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist 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 (pain) has 0 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 can lower the levels of pain medicine in your body by making your system process it faster than usual.. 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 (pain) or erythromycin.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.