Medicines
Discover all available medicines and treatments
Discover all available medicines and treatments
Brand: Nubain, Nalpain
Nalbuphine is a synthetic opioid agonist-antagonist analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. It acts on opioid receptors in the central nervous system, providing pain relief while exhibiting a ceiling effect for respiratory depression, limiting its potential for abuse compared to pure opioid agonists. It belongs to the opioid analgesic class.
For moderate to severe pain relief, including postoperative and labor pain.
WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS WITH NEURAXIAL ADMINISTRATION. Serious adverse reactions, some of which have been fatal, have been reported with epidural or intrathecal administration of nalbuphine hydrochloride injection intended for intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous administration. These include, but are not limited to, apnea requiring intubation, respiratory arrest, bradycardia, severe hypotension, hypotension with rebound hypertension, cardiac arrest, and neurological deficits. DO NOT ADMINISTER NALBUPHINE HYDROCHLORIDE INJECTION BY THE EPIDURAL OR INTRATHECAL ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION. [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Outcome:
Increased sedation and respiratory depression
Mechanism:
Additive CNS depressant effects
Outcome:
Increased constipation and urinary retention
Mechanism:
Additive anticholinergic effects
Outcome:
Slight reduction in nalbuphine's analgesic effect
Mechanism:
Caffeine's stimulant effects
Most likely new formulation: extended-release oral formulation (Year: 2026, 70% confidence)
Based on current usage trends and safety profile, the likelihood of nalbuphine remaining a schedule II drug is 95%.
Opioid Analgesic, Agonist-Antagonist
Morphinan Derivative