nalbuphine

Nalbuphine can cause irregular or slowed breathing, which can be life-threatening. Your risk is higher if you take other medications that can cause slowed breathing (e.g., benzodiazepines, other opioids, muscle relaxants, sleep medications) or drink alcohol. Make sure to tell your provider about all the medications you're taking before starting nalbuphine treatment.

Opioids like nalbuphine can cause your adrenal hormone levels to drop. This is more likely to happen after taking opioids for longer than 1 month. Symptoms include weakness, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Let your provider know right away if you experience these symptoms so they can check your hormone levels.

Nalbuphine can cause severely low blood pressure. The risk is higher in people taking other medications that slow the body down (e.g., general anesthetics, sedatives). Your provider will likely check your blood pressure while you're receiving nalbuphine. Let your provider know if you feel lightheaded, dizzy, fatigued, or like you're going to faint.

As a result of lowering your breathing rate, nalbuphine can also raise the pressure in your brain. This can be problematic for people with certain medical conditions, such as brain tumors, head injuries, or high pressure in the brain. During treatment, your provider will monitor your breathing rate and level of consciousness often.

Nalbuphine can cause problems with your stomach or digestive system, such as raising your risk for inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). People with a blockage in their gut shouldn't take nalbuphine. Let your provider know if you have a history of stomach problems. If you experience constipation while taking nalbuphine, discuss treatment options with your provider.

Nalbuphine can raise the risk for seizures in people with a history of seizures or medical conditions that cause seizures. Let your providers know your full medical history so they can monitor you more closely if you're at risk for seizures.

Using nalbuphine with other medications that raise serotonin levels in your brain, known as serotonergic medications, can cause a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Some examples of serotonergic medications include fluoxetine (Prozac), duloxetine (Cymbalta), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and trazodone (Desyrel). Let your providers know about all the medications you take so they can make sure they're safe with nalbuphine. Call for emergency medical help right away and stop using nalbuphine if you experience diarrhea, high fever, distress, confusion, shakiness, sweating, fast heart rate, or stiff muscles.