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Molecule

Nalbuphine

Also known as nalbuphine hydrochloride
Available on requestPain and anaesthesia
Presentations
5
Brands
0
Manufacturers
0
Available from stock
0

Nalbuphine is an opioid agonist/antagonist indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. It is available as injection for intramuscular, intravenous and subcutaneous use. MedsAcross supplies Nalbuphine for export from India to licensed hospitals, importers and physicians acting for named patients, with the documents each country requires.

Information from the US FDA prescribing information, retrieved 12 November 2026. Not yet medically reviewed.How we review

Key facts

Pharmacological class
Opioid Agonist/Antagonist, Competitive Opioid Antagonists, Partial Opioid Agonists
ATC classification
N02AF02 Nalbuphine · Opioid, subgroup N02AF
US FDA first approval
15 May 1979
EU status
Not recorded
Orphan designation
Not recorded
WHO essential medicine
Not recorded
India (CDSCO)
Not yet confirmed against CDSCO approval lists
Routes
Intramuscular, Intravenous, Subcutaneous, Subconjunctival
Dosage forms
Injection
Identifiers
UNII L2T84IQI2KRxCUI 7238CAS 20594-83-6DrugBank DB00844Q277979

Clinical information

From the regulator-approved product information. Each section names its source.

Uses

Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection can also be used as a supplement to balanced anesthesia, for preoperative and postoperative analgesia, and for obstetrical analgesia during labor and delivery. Limitations of Use: Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, misuse, overdose, and death, which can occur at any dosage or duration and persist over the course of therapy, reserve opioid analgesics, including Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection, for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are ineffective, not tolerated, or would be otherwise inadequate to provide sufficient management of pain.

Source: US FDA prescribing information

Dosing overview

Important Dosage and Administration Instructions Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection should be administered as a supplement to general anesthesia only by persons specifically trained in the use of intravenous anesthetics and management of the respiratory effects of potent opioids. An overdose reversal agent (e.g., naloxone, nalmefene), resuscitative and intubation equipment and oxygen should be readily available.

Source: US FDA prescribing information

Contraindications

Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection is contraindicated in patients with: • Significant respiratory depression • Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment • Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus • Hypersensitivity to nalbuphine or any of the other ingredients in Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection.

Source: US FDA prescribing information

Warnings and precautions

Boxed warning (serious and life-threatening risks from use of nalbuphine hydrochloride injection): Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions. Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection contains nalbuphine. As an opioid, nalbuphine exposes users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse. The risk of opioid‑related overdose or overdose-related death is increased with higher opioid doses, and this risk persists over the course of therapy.

Source: US FDA prescribing information

Side effects

The most frequent adverse reaction in 1066 patients treated in clinical studies with Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection was sedation 381 (36%). Less frequent reactions were: sweaty/clammy 99 (9%), nausea/vomiting 68 (6%), dizziness/vertigo 58 (5%), dry mouth 44 (4%), and headache 27 (3%). Other adverse reactions which occurred (reported incidence of 1% or less) were: CNS Effects: Nervousness, depression, restlessness, crying, euphoria, floating, hostility, unusual dreams, confusion, faintness, hallucinations, dysphoria, feeling of heaviness, numbness, tingling, unreality. The incidence of psychotomimetic effects, such as unreality, depersonalization, delusions, dysphoria and hallucinations has been shown to be less than that which occurs with pentazocine. Cardiovascular: Hypertension, hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia. Gastrointestinal: Cramps, dyspepsia, bitter taste.

Source: US FDA prescribing information

Interactions

Benzodiazepines and other Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Although Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection possesses opioid antagonist activity, there is evidence that in nondependent patients it will not antagonize an opioid analgesic administered just before, concurrently, or just after an injection of Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection. Therefore, due to additive pharmacologic effects, the concomitant use of other opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants such as alcohol, non-benzodiazepine sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), and other opioids, can increase the risk of respiratory depression, profound sedation, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing of these drugs for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate.

Source: US FDA prescribing information

Storage

Store at 20℃ to 25°C (68℉ to 77°F). Protect from excessive light. Store in carton until contents have been used.

Source: US FDA prescribing information

For healthcare professionals and buyers. This is not medical advice. Treatment decisions belong to the prescriber.

All presentations

5 presentations of Nalbuphine, sorted by availability.

MedicineManufacturerRegisterAvailability
Nalbuphine 100 mg/10 mL injectionIntramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneousGeneric name—US FDAAvailable on request
Nalbuphine 200 mg/10 mL injectionIntramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneousGeneric name—US FDAAvailable on request
Nalbuphine 10 mg/1 mL injectionIntramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneousGeneric name—US FDAAvailable on request
Nalbuphine 20 mg/1 mL injectionIntramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneousGeneric name—US FDAAvailable on request
Nalbuphine 100 mg/10 mL injectionIntramuscular, intravenous, subconjunctivalGeneric name—US FDAAvailable on request

Regulatory status

Approval facts from US FDA, EMA and CDSCO data, and registration status by country where we hold register data.

RegisterStatusSource
US FDAFirst approved 15 May 1979Drugs@FDA
EU (EMA)Not recorded—
India (CDSCO)Not yet confirmed against CDSCO approval lists—
United StatesRegisteredUS FDA (NDC directory, openFDA)Checked 12 November 2026

Conditions

Conditions linked to Nalbuphine in public data. This is not a list of approved uses, see the clinical information.

Questions and answers

Is Nalbuphine available for export from India?

Yes, on request. MedsAcross lists 5 presentations of Nalbuphine and sources them for licensed hospitals, importers and physicians against valid import documents.

Is Nalbuphine approved by the US FDA?

Yes. The US FDA first approved Nalbuphine on 15 May 1979, according to Drugs@FDA.

Does Nalbuphine need cold chain shipping?

No listed presentation of Nalbuphine is recorded as needing a cold chain. Storage conditions are shown on each presentation page.

Which ATC class is Nalbuphine in?

Nalbuphine is classified under ATC code N02AF02 (Nalbuphine).

References

  1. Nalbuphine Hydrochloride prescribing information (Hospira). U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Retrieved 16 July 2026

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