Apnoea after Buprenorphine in cats

22 reports to the FDA describe apnoea in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all cat medicines.

22Reports

100%Marked serious

36%Recovered

45%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

20 91%

1–2 days

2 9.1%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

8 36%

Still unwell when reported

2 9.1%

Died

10 45%

Not known

2 9.1%

Problems reported at the same time

10 45%

6 27%

4 18%

4 18%

3 14%

3 14%

3 14%

3 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Buprenorphine pain relief (an opioid).

Questions owners ask

Can Buprenorphine cause apnoea in cats?: 22 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Apnoea with similar medicines

Apnoea after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 77 reports · 2.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in cats · Medicines most reported with apnoea