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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Butorphanol and cyclobenzaprine

Butorphanol's FDA label of January 2, 2026 names cyclobenzaprine in its drug interactions section; the cyclobenzaprine labels PlainMeds reads (3) do not name butorphanol. The butorphanol label: “Serotonergic Drugs The concomitant use of opioids with other drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake …”

Check it at the source: the butorphanol FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 2, 2026, Hospira, Inc.); the cyclobenzaprine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 21, 2025, Jubilant Cadista Pharmaceuticals Inc.).

What does the butorphanol label say about cyclobenzaprine?

Butorphanol label, drug interactions

Serotonergic Drugs The concomitant use of opioids with other drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system, such as 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 (eg., cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone), and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue), has resulted in serotonin syndrome [see PRECAUTIONS;

Source: FDA drug label (Butorphanol Tartrate), Hospira, Inc., effective January 2, 2026 (SPL set 9822ca3f-aee2-46e5-8a96-495400e65d10), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the cyclobenzaprine label say about butorphanol?

Cyclobenzaprine's label (effective February 21, 2025) and its 2 other brand-application labels do not name butorphanol in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.

Source: FDA drug label (Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride), Jubilant Cadista Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective February 21, 2025 (SPL set 592871f6-0eb2-4624-9e10-bd8bf767c002), 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

4Butorphanol generic labelers
59Cyclobenzaprine generic labelers
ButorphanolCyclobenzaprine
Labeled forPainMuscle spasms and spasticity, Nerve pain and fibromyalgia
Boxed warningYesNo
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)$15.46 per mL 10 mg/mL spray$0.0171 per tablet 10 mg tablet
Shortage nowNo current entryNo 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?