Buprenorphine and Tizanidine interaction

Buprenorphine and Tizanidine: both prescribing labels flag this combination with the strongest language, such as a contraindication, a boxed warning, or an instruction to avoid it.

Major

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

Major

Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.

Boxed warningby drug classView label on DailyMed
Major

Risks From Concomitant Use With Benzodiazepines Or Other CNS Depressants Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.

Boxed warningby drug classView label on DailyMed
Major

Reserve concomitant prescribing of BELBUCA and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) , Drug Interactions (7) ] .

Boxed warningby drug classView label on DailyMed
Major

Advise both patients and caregivers about the risks of respiratory depression and sedation when BELBUCA is used with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants (including alcohol and illicit drugs).

Warnings and precautionsby drug classView label on DailyMed
Major

Screen patients for risk of substance use disorders, including opioid abuse and misuse, and warn them of the risk for overdose and death associated with the use of additional CNS depressants including alcohol and illicit drugs [see Drug Interactions (7) ] .

Warnings and precautionsby drug classView label on DailyMed

From the Tizanidine (Zanaflex) label · effective 2026-01-02

Moderate

Sedation: Zanaflex may interfere with everyday activities; sedative effects of Zanaflex, alcohol, and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants are additive ( 5.3 , 7.4 )

Warnings and precautionsby drug classView label on DailyMed
Moderate

The CNS depressant effects of Zanaflex with alcohol and other CNS depressants (e.g., benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants) may be additive [see Drug Interactions ( 7.4 )] .

Warnings and precautionsby drug classView label on DailyMed
Moderate

Monitor patients who take Zanaflex with another CNS depressant for symptoms of excess sedation.

Warnings and precautionsby drug classView label on DailyMed
Moderate

To minimize the risk of these reactions, particularly in patients who have been receiving high doses of Zanaflex (20 to 28 mg daily) for long periods of time (9 weeks or more) or who may be on concomitant treatment with narcotics, the Zanaflex dosage should be decreased slowly [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 )] .

Warnings and precautionsby drug classView label on DailyMed
Moderate

Alcohol and Other CNS Depressants Alcohol increases the exposure of tizanidine after administration of Zanaflex.

Drug interactionsby drug classView label on DailyMed

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Not 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.