Blood problems after Buprenorphine in cats

161 reports to the FDA describe blood problems in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 2.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.9% across reports for all cat medicines.

161Reports

81%Marked serious

16%Recovered

28%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

30 21%

1–2 days

35 24%

3–7 days

26 18%

1–4 weeks

32 22%

Over a month

21 15%

How the animals did

Recovered

25 16%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.6%

Still unwell when reported

71 44%

Died

10 6.2%

Euthanised

35 22%

Not known

19 12%

Problems reported at the same time

92 57%

84 52%

64 40%

51 32%

45 28%

42 26%

36 22%

34 21%

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 blood problems in cats?: 161 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 3 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).

Blood problems with similar medicines

Blood problems after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 72 reports · 2.7% of its reports

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