Nalbuphine is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic.

Nalbuphine is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is also used for treating pain just after surgery or childbirth.

Nalbuphine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to nalbuphine.

Before you receive nalbuphine, tell your doctor if you have asthma or other breathing problems, liver or kidney disease, a slow heart rate, severe infection, gallbladder disease, mental illness, a history of head injury or brain tumor, or if you have recently had a heart attack.

Nalbuphine may be habit forming. Tell your doctor if you have a history of drug abuse or addiction.

Using nalbuphine may cause unpleasant side effects if you are already using other similar medicines. Using narcotic medications together can also increase the side effects of these medications.

Before you receive nalbuphine, tell your doctor about all other pain medicines you have recently used.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to nalbuphine.

To make sure you can safely use nalbuphine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), or other breathing disorder;

• liver or kidney disease;

• a history of head injury or brain tumor;

• a slow heart rate, or if you have recently had a heart attack;

• a severe infection;

• gallbladder disease; or

• mental illness.

Nalbuphine may be habit forming. Tell your doctor if you have a history of drug abuse or addiction.

FDA pregnancy category B. Nalbuphine is not expected to harm an unborn baby during early pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Although this medication is sometimes used during labor and delivery, nalbuphine can cause serious side effects in the newborn when the mother has received this medication shortly before childbirth. Effects of nalbuphine in the newborn may include breathing problems, a slow heart rate, a blue-colored appearance, and weak or limp muscles. If you receive this medication during labor and delivery, your caregivers will watch your baby closely for any serious side effects of nalbuphine. These effects can usually be treated quickly in a hospital setting.

It is not known whether nalbuphine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.