AHFS Class:

28:08.12 Opioid Partial Agonists

Generic Name

• Butorphanol Tartrate (CAS Registry Number: 58786-99-5)

Butorphanol tartrate is available as a 1-mg/mL solution in 1-mL single-dose vials and a 2-mg/mL solution in 1- and 2-mL single-dose vials.²⁹⁰⁵ Each mL contains butorphanol tartrate 1 or 2 mg, sodium citrate dihydrate 6.4 mg, citric acid hydrous 3.3 mg, and sodium chloride 6.4 mg.²⁹⁰⁵

Equivalency

Butorphanol tartrate 1 mg is equivalent to 0.68 mg of butorphanol base.²⁹⁰⁵

pH

3 to 5.5.²⁹⁰⁵

Butorphanol tartrate may be administered by intramuscular or intravenous injection.²⁹⁰⁵

Intact vials should be stored at controlled room temperature.²⁹⁰⁵ Protect from light.²⁹⁰⁵

Central Venous Catheter

Butorphanol tartrate (Apothecon) 0.04 mg/mL in dextrose 5% was found to be compatible with the ARROWg+ard Blue Plus (Arrow International) chlorhexidine-bearing triple-lumen central catheter. Essentially complete delivery of the drug was found with little or no drug loss occurring. Furthermore, chlorhexidine delivered from the catheter remained at trace amounts with no substantial increase due to the delivery of the drug through the catheter.²³³⁵

Additive Compatibility

Drugs in Syringe Compatibility

Y-Site Injection Compatibility (1:1 Mixture)

For a list of references cited in the text of this monograph, search the monograph titled References.

ASHP^® Injectable Drug Information^TM. Selected Revisions September 12, 2025. © Copyright, 2025. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists^®, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.