buprenorphine vs tranylcypromine

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Side-by-side comparison of buprenorphine and tranylcypromine. 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: phenelzine, tranylcypromine, linezolid Muscle Relaxants Clinical Impact: Buprenorphine may enhance the neuromuscular blocking action of skeletal muscle relaxants and produce an increased degree of respiratory depression.

Drug Class
buprenorphine Partial Opioid Agonist
tranylcypromine Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI)
Type
buprenorphine Prescription
tranylcypromine Prescription
Summary
buprenorphine

Buprenorphine sublingual tablets help treat opioid dependence. It should be part of a full treatment plan with counseling and support.

tranylcypromine

Tranylcypromine (Parnate) is a medicine used to treat major depression in adults. It is used when other antidepressants have not worked well enough.

What It Treats
buprenorphine

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.

tranylcypromine

Tranylcypromine is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. You should only use it if other antidepressants haven't helped. It is not for the first treatment of depression because it can cause serious side effects and has many drug and food interactions.

How It Works
buprenorphine

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.

tranylcypromine

Tranylcypromine belongs to a class of drugs called MAO inhibitors. It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. These chemicals can help improve your mood.

Common Side Effects
buprenorphine
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Constipation
tranylcypromine
  • Dry mouth
  • Dizziness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
buprenorphine
  • Death 13,278
  • Drug Dependence 12,452
  • Overdose 10,911
  • Toxicity To Various Agents 10,722
  • Pain 8,157
tranylcypromine
  • Drug Interaction 68
  • Depression 36
  • Serotonin Syndrome 27
  • Headache 24
  • Hypertension 24
Serious Warnings
buprenorphine

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.

tranylcypromine

Tranylcypromine can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. It can also cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure if you eat foods high in tyramine or take certain medicines. Make sure to follow all food and drug restrictions.

Pregnancy
buprenorphine

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.

tranylcypromine

There is limited information about the safety of tranylcypromine during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not recommended to breastfeed while taking this medicine because it can harm the baby.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare buprenorphine with

Compare tranylcypromine with

How to Read This buprenorphine vs tranylcypromine Comparison

buprenorphine is classified in the Partial Opioid Agonist drug class, while tranylcypromine sits within the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) 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 tranylcypromine has 179. 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 medicines together can cause a serious brain reaction and make it harder for you to breathe. it can also lead to high fever or muscle stiffness.. 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 tranylcypromine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.