Hyperaesthesia after Buprenorphine in cats

32 reports to the FDA describe hyperaesthesia in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 0.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

32Reports

34%Marked serious

31%Recovered

3.1%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

21 72%

1–2 days

5 17%

3–7 days

3 10%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 31%

Still unwell when reported

19 59%

Euthanised

1 3.1%

Not known

2 6.3%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

10 31%

Dilated pupils

9 28%

Restlessness or agitation

8 25%

6 19%

6 19%

5 16%

5 16%

4 13%

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 hyperaesthesia in cats?: 32 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).

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