Butorphanol (By injection)
bue-TOR-fa-nol
Treats pain. This medicine is a narcotic.
Drug classes
Analgesic, Anesthetic Adjunct (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Butorphanol injection is used to relieve pain. It may also be given before a surgery, when giving birth, or with general anesthesia before an operation.
Butorphanol injection belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain.
When butorphanol injection is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence (addiction) is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly. However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Injectable
Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle or vein.
A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
Missed dose: Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to butorphanol or to benzethonium chloride.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have lung problems, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, or a history of head injury or drug abuse.
This medicine can be habit-forming. Do not use more than your prescribed dose. Call your doctor if you think your medicine is not working.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
This medicine may cause constipation, especially with long-term use. Ask your doctor if you should use a laxative to prevent and treat constipation.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not there
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Lightheadedness or fainting
Trouble breathing
Trouble urinating
Unusual weakness
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Blurred vision
Nausea, vomiting, or constipation
Ringing in your ears, or ear pain
Sleepiness or trouble sleeping
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Novaplus Butorphanol Tartrate, Stadol
There may be other brand names for this medicine.