Generic Name: Nubain (nalbuphine)
Nubain Reviews
For Pain "I have chronic cervical stenosis & degenerative joint disease. All the opiates (Vicodin, Percocet, etc.) make me dizzy with unfavorable reactions. I have been on Nubain for over 2 years & never had to increase the dose. I can now be fully productive at work, it does not make me dizzy & has has no addictive feelings."
For Pain "I have been taking Nubain 2x a day for 11 years without ever needing to increase my dosage except for during hospital stays. I take it IV with Phenergan and it has allowed me to work a job AND enjoy watching my children throughout their recreational activities. Before Nubain I pretty much remained on the couch."
For Pain "I have chronic migraines and am on all types of medicine for them. Sometimes every month or so I get one that'll last a week. Yes a week. And I go to my primary doctor and he give me Nubain. It really is a wonderful drug for migraines I have been using it for three years now. It's completely non addicting. And it takes away my severe migraine in just 15 minutes . Weeks of pain gone after one shot ."
For Pain "I felt like this drug worked better than vicodin, demerol and percocet. I received Nubain in the ER after a gall bladder attack. Immediate relief and no side effects from the worst pain I've ever experienced."
For Pain "I have been suffering from severe pain for 8 years now from crushed nerves from a work related incident. I get immediate pain relief without the side effects like upset stomach, nausea, dizziness and headache. I think this a wonderful drug for a chronic pain suffer like me who gets no relief from the ther pain medications on the market."
For Pain "I was admitted to the hospital with a severe headache and stiff neck. I was given Demerol on one occasion it didn't really help, And upon my next visit for the same headache 3 and a half weeks later I was given Tordol for my pain and Zofran for nausea...It sure didn't help. So I was put into a room where I asked for some pain medication and the nurse told me I could get Nubain for my pain. I had never had it before to the best of my knowledge..But get this.. The doctor that admitted me saw in my chart that I had taken Methadone in the past..He asked me DO YOU STILL TAKE METHADONE?? I SAID YES EVERY DAY. The nurse gave me the Nubain and I had instant withdrawals. One week later I'm still sick with a headache."
For Pain "I was in the emergency room due to crippling pain from my head through all my joints and bones. They gave me a shot of tramadol first and it didn't phase me. Then they gave me the Nubain and for once, I wasn't in pain. Most pain medicines won't work on me, but this worked wonders!"
For Pain "I received an injection cocktail of Nubain and Phenergren after suffering from a Migrane headache that had lasted for 6 days. I was in ER for 4 days before that and the injections they gave me there wore off and the pain was back. I was prescribed Fiorcet and it helped to some degree, but the headache was back when the medicine wore off. Once I received the Nubain, I've only had to take 1 Fiorcet, and this morning, for the first time in a week, I've been able to wake up with no pain."
For Pain "I recently received an injection of nalbuphine in a walk-in/non-life threatening ER for a cluster headache that had spiked to a 10 on the pain scale and it was an absolute revelation to me. With negligible side effects, it worked as well (10 to 6 on pain scale) as 4 times the typical IV injection of Dilaudid (so 4mg or about 16-24mg oral/60-80mg of oral morphine/100-150mcg of transdermal fentanyl/150-200mg of oral Demerol) without making me high or nod out. This was the first partial agonist (like buprenorphine) that actually helped severe pain. "
For Pain "I’ve been getting Nubain injections for my migraines for a few months now. I am having a migraine on average once a week for 2-3 days. My life has been doctors offices and bed. Of course I have been seeing my neurologist for help but there’s no magic wand to make migraines go away. When I can’t get rid of my migraines at home, I go see my doctor. She gives me Nubain 20mg and Promethazine 50mg. The stuff works great. The Nubain takes the pain away almost instantaneously. I can usually fall asleep and wake up pain free! My only complaint is the nausea I get from the Nubain. The promethazine helps with that though. Certainly not a permanent solution for my migraines I know but, it’s what I’m working with now."
For Pain "I have been using Nubain for the last 6 years and I can honestly say, it's changed my life. I am in dire need of a knee replacement but nobody will do the procedure due to my age..I am told by orthopedic doctors to wait until I'm at least 46( I'm 44) so I have 2 more years to wait. I was a collegiate gymnast and coached for 17 years, have had 2 ACL surgeries and basically have bone on bone knee pain. I have tried everything..but this is a life changer. "
For Pain "I was administered Nubain in an ER for pain caused by the gallstones I had developed. It not only took away the pain but also made me feel relaxed and anxiety free after years of suffering from manic depression, bi-polar. I have been injecting Nubain since a few months now, just to be functional enough to make it to work and make the day pass by. I prefer (can never find a vein) intramuscular shots and find myself getting highly addicted to the substance. I'm scared but more importantly find it impossible to leave my room (read: rabbit hole) without injecting some every four to five hours."
For Pain "I suffer from frequent migraines, several times/month. Every couple years I seem to get a massive headache that last day, after day, after day. My regular medication (sumatriptin) does nothing. It's then I head to the doctor or the ER and sometimes they will give me an injection of Nubain. That's all it takes. Headache goes away pretty quickly afterwards. Whew!"
For Pain "I was administered Nubain during my labor. It made me feel extremely drunk and out of control. I remember feeling intense pain, but not really caring. The whole experience is hazy to me, which is really depressing as I looked forward to giving birth. Also, after being administered the Nubain, my labor became precipitous (I went from 3cm to 10cm in under 2 hours - not sure if this is related to the Nubain though) I would rather go drug-free than to use this again for the birth of my next baby."
For Pain "I have been having very frequent migraines that were not relieved by anything else. This medicine has been a lifesaver for me. Yes the shots hurt but it is well worth the effects of not having debilitating headaches."
For Pain "My Dr has used Nubain sparingly for fibromyalgia flares that were continuous for more than a week. I tolerated it well and other than sedation I had no major side effect. I discontinued any other pain meds."
For Pain "I was laboring with Pitocin, and I couldn't get an epidural, I had a shot of Nubain in my IV and only worked for 2 minutes (literally) and I was back to feeling the full brunt of my off the chart contractions, in fact they seemed worse. For my next baby I will just labor naturally and not even try the Nubain."
For Pain "27 hours after my water broke and being induced for labor the doctor added Nubain to my IV. It was certainly effective in the way that it completely knocked me out. All I remember was getting dizzy, seeing stars and then blacking out. It was a very uncomfortable feeling almost like my consciousness was gone. When I woke up I had no feeling for how much time had passed whether the baby was already born by c-section or not. The drug certainly did kill the labor pain but for me it was too powerful with too many side effects."
For Pain "I was given Nubain during childbirth. I was induced because of Preeclampsia. I went to 7 cm then ask for something for pain. That is what I was given, and then an epidural. My baby was born not breathing and I believe it was because of the Nubain. He was bagged, and rushed to the NICU. Praise God they got him breathing again, and he ending up being just fine. He had to stay in the NICU for a month. Nubain is a very bad drug. I had never heard of before they gave it to me. It was meant for AFTER CHILDBIRTH, NOT DURING. I ONLY HAD ONE DOSE. NEVER AGAIN! There is not a spot for one time use."
For Pain "Oh my goodness. I was given nubain after a hysterectomy. I was screaming in my room in pain. I had my husband call my my doctor's office and I can't even remember the curse words I used to get the doctor on the phone and when he did that poor man heard things that no man should hear. Within 15 minutes the nurses came down with Percocet and 20 mg Valium. After that I was completely sane not drowsy and could function like a normal person. The nurses on that floor came in and told me that they were going to have a consultation with the doctors because their patients were reacting so poorly to this drug and not getting any relief. Shortly after that the hospital quit using Nubain this was in Texas."
For Pain "Had surgery and was given Nubain in IV while at the hospital recovering when dilaudid wasn't working. It un-did all the previous pain meds within 10-15 min and did nothing in their place! I could feel everything as if I was on the surgery table freshly opened. The pain caused me to go into a slight shock rrom the intensity. I had a to be put on oxygen for a few hours and back on dilaudid. Never ever again."
For Anesthesia "This is a review from 20 years ago. I remember after childbirth when I was alone with my new baby in the hospital after visiting hours were over and all was quite a very heavy sensation on my chest and I felt like I was going to die. I just lay there almost paralyzed in fear. Probably serotonin syndrome."
For Pain "Immediately showed signs of withdrawal with increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, flushing, agitation, sweating, violent tremors with some symptoms occurring up to 6 hours after administered."
For Pain "I use Nubain twice a week for pain in my back due to being injured several years ago. This is one of the best medications I have found that didn't put me to sleep for hours after I take it."
For Pain "This medication worked even faster than morphine."
More about Nubain (nalbuphine)
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: Opioids (narcotic analgesics)
- Breastfeeding
Patient resources
- Nubain advanced reading
Professional resources
- Nubain prescribing information
- Nalbuphine (AHFS Monograph)
Related treatment guides
- Pain
- Anesthesia
