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buprenorphine (pain) vs trazodone

Side-by-side comparison of buprenorphine (pain) and trazodone. 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 inhibitors (those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue).

Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor you closely for symptoms like shivering, sweating, or confusion.

Drug Class
buprenorphine (pain) Partial Opioid Agonist
trazodone Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitor (SARI)
Type
buprenorphine (pain) Prescription
trazodone Prescription
Summary
buprenorphine (pain)

Belbuca is a medicine used to treat severe, long-lasting pain. It contains buprenorphine, a type of opioid pain reliever.

trazodone

Trazodone is a medicine used to treat depression. It helps to improve your mood and can help you sleep better.

What It Treats
buprenorphine (pain)

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.

trazodone

Trazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. This medicine can help improve your mood and reduce symptoms of depression. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about why you are taking this medication.

How It Works
buprenorphine (pain)

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.

trazodone

Trazodone is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood.

Common Side Effects
buprenorphine (pain)
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
trazodone
  • Swelling
  • Blurred vision
  • Fainting
  • Drowsiness
  • Tiredness
FAERS Reports
buprenorphine (pain)

No adverse event reports.

trazodone
  • Tiredness 1,129
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,097
  • Head pain 906
  • General discomfort 806
  • Loose stools 792
Serious Warnings
buprenorphine (pain)

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.

trazodone

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Trazodone is not approved for use in children.

Pregnancy
buprenorphine (pain)

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.

trazodone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is important to consider the risk of untreated depression during pregnancy. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare buprenorphine (pain) with

How to Read This buprenorphine (pain) vs trazodone Comparison

buprenorphine (pain) is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist drug class, while trazodone sits within the Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitor (SARI) 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 trazodone has 4,730. 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 drugs increase the levels of a brain chemical called serotonin. taking them together can lead to a dangerous buildup called serotonin syndrome.. 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 (pain) and trazodone - 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.