Intentional misuse after Buprenorphine in cats

67 reports to the FDA describe intentional misuse in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 1.2% 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.

67Reports

79%Marked serious

24%Recovered

22%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

34 53%

1–2 days

9 14%

3–7 days

5 7.8%

1–4 weeks

3 4.7%

Over a month

13 20%

How the animals did

Recovered

16 24%

Still unwell when reported

35 52%

Died

6 9.0%

Euthanised

9 13%

Not known

1 1.5%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

26 39%

Lethargy

22 33%

Vomiting

14 21%

Didn't work as expected

14 21%

Death

14 21%

Kidney problems

12 18%

Breathing problems

11 16%

Abnormal radiograph finding

10 15%

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 intentional misuse in cats?: 67 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).

Intentional misuse with similar medicines

Intentional misuse after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 57 reports · 2.2% of its reports

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