Elevated globulins after Buprenorphine in cats

58 reports to the FDA describe elevated globulins in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 1.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

58Reports

84%Marked serious

14%Recovered

28%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

12 23%

1–2 days

18 34%

3–7 days

4 7.5%

1–4 weeks

11 21%

Over a month

8 15%

How the animals did

Recovered

8 14%

Still unwell when reported

26 45%

Died

5 8.6%

Euthanised

11 19%

Not known

8 14%

Problems reported at the same time

35 60%

29 50%

27 47%

20 34%

19 33%

18 31%

18 31%

16 28%

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 elevated globulins in cats?: 58 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 2 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).

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