What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Buprenorphine and phenelzine
Buprenorphine's FDA label of June 5, 2026 names phenelzine in its drug interactions section; the phenelzine label PlainMeds reads does not name buprenorphine. The buprenorphine label: “MAOI interactions with opioids may manifest as serotonin syndrome or opioid toxicity”
Check it at the source: the buprenorphine FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 5, 2026); the phenelzine FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025, Parke-Davis Div of Pfizer Inc).
What does the buprenorphine label say about phenelzine?
Buprenorphine label, drug interactionsMonoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) Clinical Impact: MAOI interactions with opioids may manifest as serotonin syndrome or opioid toxicity (…). Intervention: The use of buprenorphine sublingual tablets is not recommended for patients taking MAOIs or within 14 days of stopping such treatment. Examples: Phenelzine, tranylcypromine, linezolid
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 (Sublocade, NDA209819), Indivior Inc., effective July 27, 2026 (SPL set 6189fb21-9432-45f8-8481-0bfaf3ccde95), 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 phenelzine label say about buprenorphine?
Phenelzine's label (effective June 6, 2025) does not name buprenorphine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Nardil), Parke-Davis Div of Pfizer Inc, effective June 6, 2025 (SPL set 513a41d0-37d4-4355-8a6d-a2c643bce6fa), 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 | Phenelzine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Opioid use disorder, Pain | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.277 per tablet 2 mg tablet sl | $0.586 per tablet 15 mg tablet |
| 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