.Pharmacolibrary.Drugs.ATC.N.N02AF01

Information

Butorphanol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used for the management of moderate to severe pain, including pain associated with surgery, migraine, and cancer. It acts primarily as an agonist-antagonist at opioid receptors (agonist at kappa and partial agonist/antagonist at mu receptors). Butorphanol is approved and currently used in both human and veterinary medicine, with formulations available for intravenous, intramuscular, and nasal administration.

Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetic parameters reported for healthy adult volunteers following intravenous administration.

References

1. Knych, HK, et al., & Blea, J (2024). Population pharmacokinetics of butorphanol following intramuscular administration to exercised thoroughbred horses. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics 47(5) 372–379. DOI:10.1111/jvp.13450 PUBMED:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38687131

2. Crabtree, NE, et al., & Fontenot, RL (2019). Synovial butorphanol concentrations and mechanical nociceptive thresholds after intravenous regional limb perfusion in standing sedated horses. Veterinary surgery : VS 48(8) 1473–1482. DOI:10.1111/vsu.13309 PUBMED:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31513300

3. Vogelsang, J, & Hayes, SR (1991). Butorphanol tartrate (stadol): a review. Journal of post anesthesia nursing 6(2) 129–135. PUBMED:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1848891

Revisions

• 06/2025 initial generated model