ABSTRACT
Nalbuphine elicits its analgesic, CNS depressant, and respiratory depressant actions primarily by binding to the endorphin receptors in the CNS. Nalbuphine is addicting and habituating. Long-term nalbuphine pharmacotherapy, or regular personal use, may result in addiction and habituation. Abrupt discontinuation after long-term pharmacotherapy, or regular personal use, may result in a reportedly mild form of the opiate withdrawal syndrome. Nalbuphine also may cause signs and symptoms of the opiate withdrawal syndrome among patients who are receiving long-term opiate analgesic pharmacotherapy with pure opiate agonists (e.g., morphine) because it has mixed opiate agonist/antagonist actions. Signs and symptoms of nalbuphine overdosage are similar to the signs and symptoms associated with other opiate analgesic overdosage, although respiratory depression reportedly is less severe.
