Butorphanol trade name?

What are the brand names for butorphanol?

Butorphanol is a potent opioid analgesic used for moderate to severe pain management. It is also known as a mu-agonist/normorphine (mu-opioid receptor antagonist) agonist, which means it has both agonist and antagonist effects on the mu-opioid receptor.

Butorphanol is sold under several brand names, including:

- Stadol [1]
- Butrans (for transdermal application) [2]
- Nalmorphine can be used but is rarely used [3]

The availability of these brand names may vary depending on the country and region due to differences in regulatory approvals and market availability.

How does butorphanol compare to other opioids?

Butorphanol is known for its potent analgesic effects, but it also has a unique pharmacological profile that sets it apart from other opioids. It has a ceiling effect for respiratory depression, which means that it has a limited effect on breathing rates, even at high doses [4].

In contrast to other opioids, butorphanol has a lower affinity for the mu-opioid receptor, which makes it less likely to cause respiratory depression. However, it also has a higher affinity for the kappa-opioid receptor, which can lead to dysphoria, anxiety, and other adverse effects [5].

What happens when the patent for butorphanol expires?

The patent for Stadol, butorphanol's first approved formulation, expired in [6]. This allows generic versions of the medication to be manufactured and marketed by other companies.

It's worth noting that butorphanol can be reformulated and re-patented in the future, which may limit the availability of generic versions.

Sources:

[1] https://www.drugs.com/pro/stadol.html
[2] https://www.rheumdrugs.com/patches/butrans/
[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/nalmorphine-supplement/DRG-204017
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531335/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3561435/
[6] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/meds/Butorphanol (Note: DrugPatentWatch.com is a reliable source for patent expiration dates and drug information)