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buprenorphine vs trazodone

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

Recommendation: Watch for signs like confusion, fast heartbeat, or shivering, and seek medical help if they occur.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Constipation
trazodone
  • Swelling
  • Blurred vision
  • Fainting
  • Drowsiness
  • Tiredness
FAERS Reports
buprenorphine
  • Death 13,279
  • Drug dependence 12,452
  • Overdose 10,911
  • Harmful effect from a substance 10,722
  • Pain 8,157
trazodone
  • Tiredness 1,129
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,097
  • Head pain 906
  • General discomfort 806
  • Loose stools 792
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.

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

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.

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 with

How to Read This buprenorphine vs trazodone Comparison

buprenorphine 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 has 55,521 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 of these medications increase the amount of a brain chemical called serotonin. taking them at the same time can cause serotonin levels to become dangerously high.. 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 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.