buprenorphine vs codeine
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 and codeine. 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
If urgent use of an opioid is necessary, use test doses and frequent titration of small doses of other opioids (such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, or buprenorphine) to treat pain while closely monitoring blood pressure and signs and symptoms of CNS and respiratory depression.
Subutex, Sublocade
Codeine Sulfate
Buprenorphine sublingual tablets help treat opioid dependence. It should be part of a full treatment plan with counseling and support.
This medicine contains acetaminophen and codeine. It is used to treat mild to moderate pain when other pain medicines are not strong enough.
This medicine treats opioid dependence. Opioid dependence means you feel like you need to take opioids. This medicine can help you manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.
This medicine is used to manage mild to moderate pain. It is for when an opioid medicine is appropriate. You should only use it if other pain treatments are not working well enough for you.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. This means it binds to the same receptors in the brain as opioids, but it does not activate them as strongly. This helps to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without causing the same high as other opioids.
Codeine works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Acetaminophen also helps to relieve pain. Together, they provide pain relief.
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Sweating
- • Constipation
- • Feeling drowsy
- • Lightheadedness
- • Dizziness
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Shortness of breath
- Death 13,278
- Drug Dependence 12,452
- Overdose 10,911
- Toxicity To Various Agents 10,722
- Pain 8,157
- Drug Hypersensitivity 807
- Nausea 488
- Malaise 374
- Vomiting 365
- Headache 356
Buprenorphine can be abused, like other opioids. Taking buprenorphine with benzodiazepines or other depressants can cause serious breathing problems, coma, or death. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children, as it can cause severe breathing problems and death. Using opioids for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
This medicine can be habit-forming, leading to addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can result in overdose and death. Serious, life-threatening breathing problems can occur, especially when starting the medicine or after a dose increase. Accidental ingestion, especially by children, can cause a fatal overdose. Do not give this medicine to children under 12 years old, or to children under 18 after tonsil or adenoid removal, due to the risk of life-threatening breathing problems. This medicine can also harm your liver. Taking this medicine with certain other medicines like benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants can cause serious side effects, including death.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. Using this medicine during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in your baby after birth. Buprenorphine can pass into breast milk.
This medicine can cause withdrawal symptoms in newborns if taken during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.
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How to Read This buprenorphine vs codeine Comparison
buprenorphine is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist drug class, while codeine 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 has 55,520 submissions while codeine has 2,390. 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 drugs slow down the central nervous system and breathing. taking them together increases the risk of dangerous side effects like very slow breathing or low blood pressure.. 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 or codeine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.