Falling after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 79 reports of falling in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 1.4% 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.

79Reports

70%Marked serious

19%Recovered

19%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

35 46%

1–2 days

21 28%

3–7 days

6 7.9%

1–4 weeks

10 13%

Over a month

4 5.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 19%

Still unwell when reported

34 43%

Died

5 6.3%

Euthanised

10 13%

Not known

15 19%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

36 46%

Behaviour change

25 32%

Dilated pupils

19 24%

Restlessness or agitation

16 20%

15 19%

15 19%

15 19%

14 18%

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 falling in cats?: 79 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 1 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).

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