What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Buprenorphine and nalmefene
Buprenorphine's FDA label (Brixadi) of December 31, 2025 names nalmefene in its warnings and precautions section, and nalmefene's label names buprenorphine too.
Check it at the source: the buprenorphine FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 5, 2026); the nalmefene FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 8, 2023, Chengdu Shuode Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd).
What does the buprenorphine label say about nalmefene?
Brixadi label (Braeburn Inc., December 31, 2025), warnings and precautionsAdvise patients and caregivers that an opioid overdose reversal agent, such as naloxone or nalmefene, may also be administered for a known or suspected overdose with buprenorphine itself.
Butrans label (Knoa Pharma LLC, May 1, 2026), warnings and precautionsPatient Access to an Opioid Overdose Reversal Agent for the Emergency Treatment of Opioid Overdose Inform patients and caregivers about opioid overdose reversal agents (e.g., naloxone, nalmefene).
Source: FDA drug label (Brixadi, NDA210136), Braeburn Inc., effective December 31, 2025 (SPL set 5d8a8fd0-8619-422a-a664-d1d2e8970f48), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Butrans, NDA021306), Knoa Pharma LLC, effective May 1, 2026 (SPL set 794aa355-66de-41b8-aedf-f2c40f6bc664), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Buprenorphine HCl), SpecGx LLC, effective June 5, 2026 (SPL set b60d514d-a88a-4fa2-a5b0-30ac29e04973), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the nalmefene label say about buprenorphine?
Zurnai label (Knoa Pharma LLC, July 31, 2026), warnings and precautionsReversal of respiratory depression by partial agonists or mixed agonist/antagonists such as buprenorphine and pentazocine, may be incomplete.
Source: FDA drug label (Zurnai, NDA218590), Knoa Pharma LLC, effective July 31, 2026 (SPL set a59a5847-9fe4-4341-a203-be0a5e6d3e36), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Opvee, NDA217470), Indivior Inc., effective January 8, 2026 (SPL set 999a4269-9e54-4801-b2ac-2a7276f0b94f), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (nalmefene hydrochloride), Chengdu Shuode Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, effective December 8, 2023 (SPL set 22d67228-6c24-47ca-afc7-52ef279520a0), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Buprenorphine | Nalmefene | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Opioid use disorder, Pain | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.277 per tablet 2 mg tablet sl | $46.79 per unit 2.7 mg nasal spray |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once