Application site reaction after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 182 reports of application site reaction in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 3.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

182Reports

12%Marked serious

14%Recovered

2.2%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

26 15%

1–2 days

38 22%

3–7 days

54 31%

1–4 weeks

44 25%

Over a month

12 6.9%

How the animals did

Recovered

23 13%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 1.1%

Still unwell when reported

95 52%

Died

2 1.1%

Euthanised

2 1.1%

Not known

58 32%

Problems reported at the same time

141 77%

56 31%

21 12%

18 9.9%

13 7.1%

Skin rash or irritation

10 5.5%

Didn't work as expected

7 3.8%

Drooling

7 3.8%

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 application site reaction in cats?: 182 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 4 days 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).

Application site reaction with similar medicines

Application site reaction after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 44 reports · 1.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in cats · Medicines most reported with application site reaction