Nalbuphine Injectable Solution

NALBUPHINE (NAL byoo feen) is a pain reliever. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is also used to prevent pain during surgery and childbirth.

This drug can cause serious side effects. See which side effects you should report to your doctor right away.

Know how to use your medication, and learn what might happen if you miss a dose.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of these conditions.

Know what to watch for and get tips for reducing your risks while taking this drug.

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• confusion
• seizures
• signs and symptoms of low blood pressure like dizziness; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation
• dry mouth
• nausea, vomiting
• pain, redness, or irritation at site where injected
• tiredness

• alcohol
• antihistamines for allergy, cough and cold
• certain medicines for anxiety or sleep
• certain medicines for depression like amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline
• certain medicines for seizures like phenobarbital, primidone
• general anesthetics like halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
• local anesthetics like lidocaine, pramoxine, tetracaine
• medicines that relax muscles for surgery
• other narcotic medicines for pain or cough
• phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine

This medicine is for injection into a vein, muscle, or under the skin. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• brain tumor
• breathing problems
• drug abuse or addiction
• head injury
• heart disease
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to nalbuphine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

This does not apply.

Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.

Tell your doctor or health care professional if your pain does not go away, if it gets worse, or if you have new or a different type of pain. You may develop tolerance to the medicine. Tolerance means that you will need a higher dose of the medication for pain relief. Tolerance is normal and is expected if you take this medicine for a long time.

Do not suddenly stop taking your medicine because you may develop a severe reaction. Your body becomes used to the medicine. This does NOT mean you are addicted. Addiction is a behavior related to getting and using a drug for a non-medical reason. If you have pain, you have a medical reason to take pain medicine. Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take. If your doctor wants you to stop the medicine, the dose will be slowly lowered over time to avoid any side effects.

If you are also taking a narcotic medicine for pain or cough or another medicine that also causes drowsiness, you may have more side effects. Give your health care provider a list of all medicines you use. Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to take. Do not take more medicine than directed. Call emergency for help if you have problems breathing or unusual sleepiness.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how the medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

This medicine will cause constipation. Try to have a bowel movement at least every 2 to 3 days. If you do not have a bowel movement for 3 days, call your doctor or health care professional.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking on hard candy, and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your doctor if the problem does not go away or is severe.

Keep out of the reach of children.

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.