Lameness after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 65 reports of lameness in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 1.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

65Reports

60%Marked serious

23%Recovered

7.7%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

12 21%

1–2 days

15 26%

3–7 days

10 18%

1–4 weeks

12 21%

Over a month

8 14%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 22%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.5%

Still unwell when reported

34 52%

Died

1 1.5%

Euthanised

4 6.2%

Not known

11 17%

Problems reported at the same time

26 40%

21 32%

15 23%

14 22%

11 17%

11 17%

10 15%

9 14%

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 lameness in cats?: 65 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 3 days 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).

Lameness with similar medicines

Lameness after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 25 reports · 1.0% of its reports

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