Drug & supplement interaction

Kratom + Nalbuphine

Nalbuphine brand name: Nubain.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Kratom has a moderate interaction with Nalbuphine. Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the risk for adverse CNS depressant effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Kratom and Nalbuphine

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

CNS DEPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Nalbuphine

Nalbuphine falls under CNS DEPRESSANTS — the group Kratom interacts with.

Theoretically, concomitant use might increase the risk for adverse CNS depressant effects.
Kratom contains mitragynine, a mu-receptor agonist that may cause respiratory depression. Although results from animal research suggest that mitragynine causes less respiratory depression than the CNS depressant codeine, fatalities have been reported for patients who ingested a combination of kratom and O-desmethyltramadol, another mu-receptor agonist. Additionally, observational research suggests that adverse effects such as drowsiness and coma are more likely to occur in individuals taking kratom in combination with agents such as opioids and sedatives. Theoretically, ingesting kratom along with other CNS depressants can increase the risk of adverse effects, including drowsiness, coma, and/or severe or fatal respiratory depression.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing about taking kratom alongside nalbuphine (Nubain): both of them push on the same opioid receptors in your brain and both can quiet down your central nervous system. When you stack two things that do this, the calming and sedating effects can pile on top of each other. That can mean more drowsiness, confusion, slowed thinking, and in a worst-case situation, dangerously slow or shallow breathing.

I want to be honest that this concern is theoretical, based on how these substances work rather than firm studies on this exact pair. But real-world reports have linked kratom plus other opioids to serious harm, so it's worth taking seriously. Since nalbuphine is usually given during medical care, please tell your pharmacist or doctor if you use kratom so they can keep you safe.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Backstrom BG, Classon G, Lowenhielm P, Thelander G. [Krypton--new, deadly Internet drug. Since October 2009 have nine young persons died in Sweden]. Lakartidningen 2010;107(50):3196-3197.
  2. Kronstrand R, Roman M, Thelander G, Eriksson A. Unintentional fatal intoxications with mitragynine and O-desmethyltramadol from the herbal blend Krypton. J Anal Toxicol 2011;35(4):242-247. PubMed
  3. Jansen KL, Prast CJ. Ethnopharmacology of kratom and the Mitragyna alkaloids. J Ethnopharmacol 1988;23(1):115-119. PubMed
  4. Davidson C, Cao D, King T, et al. A comparative analysis of kratom exposure cases in Thailand and the United States from 2010-2017. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2020:1-10. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Kratom Also Interacts With Other Medications

Kratom has 982 moderate, 12 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Nalbuphine one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 982 Minor 12 No known interaction 1,836 (incl. Nalbuphine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Kratom

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Kratom. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Kratom or Nalbuphine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Kratom or Nalbuphine, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Nalbuphine

This page covers Kratom only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Nalbuphine page lists 100 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: 1,4-butanediol (major), Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (ghb) (major) and Kava (major).

By severity: 7 major · 78 moderate · 15 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Nalbuphine page

“Nalbuphine (Nubain) is an opioid pain reliever, which by itself raises the stakes of this page. Nearly four in five of the ingredients listed deepen sedation, layering their own drowsiness onto a medicine that already slows the brain and can slow breathing.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Nalbuphine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Kratom as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 8 real supplement products containing Kratom, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Kratom. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Nalbuphine too, on top of Kratom — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Kratom and Nalbuphine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Kratom
Top 25%

#341 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Nalbuphine
Steady interest

#2,754 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Kratom

What is Kratom?

Kratom
  • Pain relief
  • Opioid withdrawal symptoms
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Low energy or fatigue
  • Mood enhancement

Kratom is a Southeast Asian plant whose leaves act on the brain's opioid receptors and can produce both stimulant-like and opioid-like effects. It is not approved or proven safe by health regulators, carries real risks of dependence and serious harm, and its legal status varies widely. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before considering it.

Read the full Kratom monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Nalbuphine Injection

What Is Nalbuphine Injection Used For?

Brand name: Nubain

Nalbuphine Hydrochloride Injection is used to manage pain severe enough to require an opioid when other pain treatments have not worked or cannot be tolerated. It is only appropriate when non-opioid options are inadequate.

It can also be used as part of balanced anesthesia during surgery, for pain relief before and after operations, and for pain management during labor and delivery.

See full Nalbuphine Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Kratom

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Kratom — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
982Moderate
12Minor
1,835No known interaction
982 Moderate 12 Minor 1,835 No interaction
Moderate

982 interactions

Showing 60 of 982 moderate interactions — see all 982 on the Kratom page.

Minor

12 interactions

No interaction 1,835 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Kratom against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,835 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Kratom list.

See the full Kratom interactions page
See every supplement checked against Nalbuphine, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Kratom monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Nalbuphine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Nalbuphine, ranked by severity Nalbuphine Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Kratom and Nalbuphine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Kratom with Nalbuphine?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Kratom and Nalbuphine interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Nalbuphine and Kratom?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.