Buprenorphine and Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir interaction
Buprenorphine and Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir: both prescribing labels flag this combination with the strongest language, such as a contraindication, a boxed warning, or an instruction to avoid it.
Do not combine without a prescriber's guidance. The label language below is the strongest FDA uses.
What the FDA labels say
From the Buprenorphine (BELBUCA) label · effective 2026-01-02
Examples: atazanavir, ritonavir Benzodiazepines : May increase buprenorphine-induced respiratory depression.
Evaluate patients starting CYP3A4 inhibitors or stopping CYP3A4 inducers at frequent intervals for respiratory depression.
Examples: Macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin), azole-antifungal agents (e.g., ketoconazole), protease inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir) CYP3A4 Inducers Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of BELBUCA and CYP3A4 inducers can decrease the plasma concentration of buprenorphine [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] , potentially resulting in decreased efficacy or…
Other PIs with CYP3A4 inhibitory activity (atazanavir and atazanavir/ritonavir) resulted in elevated levels of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine, and patients in one study reported increased sedation.
Intervention: Evaluate patients taking BELBUCA and atazanavir with and without ritonavir and reduce the dose of BELBUCA if warranted.
From the Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid) label · effective 2026-02-19
…voclosporin • Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor: lomitapide • Migraine medications: eletriptan, ubrogepant • Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: finerenone • Non-opioid analgesic (selective blocker of Na v 1.8 sodium channels): suzetrigine • Opioid antagonists: naloxegol • PDE5 inhibitor: sildenafil (Revatio ® ) when used for pulmonary arterial…
Opioid antagonists naloxegol ↑ naloxegol Co-administration contraindicated due to the potential for opioid withdrawal symptoms [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Sedative/hypnotics triazolam, oral midazolam ↑ triazolam ↑ midazolam Co-administration contraindicated due to potential for extreme sedation and respiratory depression [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Serotonin receptor 1A agonist/ serotonin receptor 2A antagonist flibanserin ↑ flibanserin Co-administration contraindicated due to potential for hypotension, syncope, and CNS depression [see Contraindications (4) ] .
Narcotic analgesics fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, meperidine ↑ fentanyl ↑ hydrocodone ↑ oxycodone ↑ meperidine Careful monitoring of therapeutic and adverse effects (including potentially fatal respiratory depression) is recommended when fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, or meperidine is concomitantly administered with PAXLOVID.
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Open in the checkerNot medical advice. Interaction Checker quotes FDA label text and NIH fact sheets. Whether an interaction matters for you depends on doses, timing, kidney and liver function, and other conditions. Confirm with a pharmacist or prescriber.