Increased respiratory rate after Buprenorphine in cats

49 reports to the FDA describe increased respiratory rate in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 0.9% 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.

49Reports

69%Marked serious

18%Recovered

29%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

22 51%

1–2 days

12 28%

3–7 days

3 7.0%

1–4 weeks

1 2.3%

Over a month

5 12%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 18%

Still unwell when reported

12 24%

Died

9 18%

Euthanised

5 10%

Not known

14 29%

Problems reported at the same time

22 45%

17 35%

16 33%

14 29%

Abnormal radiograph finding

12 24%

Dilated pupils

12 24%

Fever

11 22%

Kidney problems

10 20%

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 increased respiratory rate in cats?: 49 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).

Increased respiratory rate with similar medicines

Increased respiratory rate after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 20 reports · 0.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in cats · Medicines most reported with increased respiratory rate