About Methadone and Buprenorphine - Drug Policy Alliance

Drug InteractionsLike any medication, methadonecan interact with other types ofmedicines and with street drugs.The body is a complex system, andit’s possible that foods, hormones,weight changes, and stress mayeach also affect the way in whichmethadone works in your body.We know about some of thesubstances that may interact withmethadone – and some of themare listed here. Others may yetbe discovered.These medicines cause the liverto metabolize methadone morequickly and may cause a need foran increased methadone dose:• Carbamazepin (Tegretol)• Phenytoin (Dilantin)• Neverapine (Virammune)• Rifampin• Efavirenz (Sustiva)• Amprenavir (Agenerase) –methadone also significantly reducesthe level of amprenavir.• Ritonavir (Norvir) – less of an effectSome medicines slow the metabolismof methadone. Sometimes peoplewill feel the effect of methadonemore strongly when they takethese medications, and sometimesthey experience withdrawal symptomswhen they stop taking thesemedications:• Amitriptyline (Elavil)• Cimetidine (Tagamet)• Fluvoxamine (Luvox)• Ketoconazole (Nizoral)Some medications are opioidblockers and may cause withdrawal.These block the effect of methadoneand should not be taken if you aretaking methadone:• Pentazocine (Talwin)• Naltrexone (Revia)• Tramadol (Ultram), in most cases16About Methadone and Buprenorphine