What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Butorphanol and naloxone/pentazocine
Naloxone/pentazocine's FDA label of August 28, 2025 names butorphanol in its drug interactions section; the butorphanol label PlainMeds reads does not name naloxone/pentazocine. The naloxone/pentazocine label: “… Analgesics Mixed Agonist/Antagonist and Partial Agonist Opioid Analgesics such as butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine, buprenorphine, may reduce the analgesic effect of Pentazocine and Naloxone Tablets and/or …”
Check it at the source: the butorphanol FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 2, 2026, Hospira, Inc.); the naloxone/pentazocine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 28, 2025, Lupin Pharmaceuticals,Inc.).
What does the butorphanol label say about naloxone/pentazocine?
Butorphanol's label (effective January 2, 2026) does not name naloxone/pentazocine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
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 naloxone/pentazocine label say about butorphanol?
Naloxone/pentazocine label, drug interactionsCaution should therefore be observed in administering Pentazocine and Naloxone Tablets to patients who are currently receiving MAOIs or who have received them within the preceding 14 days Mixed Agonist/Antagonist and Partial Agonist Opioid Analgesics Mixed Agonist/Antagonist and Partial Agonist Opioid Analgesics such as butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine, buprenorphine, may reduce the analgesic effect of Pentazocine and Naloxone Tablets and/or precipitate withdrawal symptoms.
Source: FDA drug label (PENTAZOCINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND NALOXONE HYDROCHLORIDE), Lupin Pharmaceuticals,Inc., effective August 28, 2025 (SPL set 017ef042-40aa-44c9-baa8-037f06356845), 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
| Butorphanol | Naloxone/pentazocine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $15.46 per mL 10 mg/mL spray | $2.06 per tablet Pentazocine-naloxone 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