Itching after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 302 reports of itching in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 5.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

302Reports

36%Marked serious

22%Recovered

7.6%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

123 43%

1–2 days

69 24%

3–7 days

44 15%

1–4 weeks

34 12%

Over a month

18 6.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

65 22%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 0.7%

Still unwell when reported

136 45%

Died

6 2.0%

Euthanised

17 5.6%

Not known

76 25%

Problems reported at the same time

Hair loss

100 33%

Behaviour change

72 24%

Application site reaction

56 19%

Dilated pupils

50 17%

Restlessness or agitation

49 16%

Loss of appetite

48 16%

Lethargy

32 11%

Fever

26 8.6%

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 itching in cats?: 302 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).

Itching with similar medicines

Itching after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 92 reports · 3.5% of its reports

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