Lateral recumbency after Buprenorphine in cats

105 reports to the FDA describe lateral recumbency in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 1.9% 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.

105Reports

86%Marked serious

20%Recovered

58%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

37 37%

1–2 days

39 39%

3–7 days

7 6.9%

1–4 weeks

14 14%

Over a month

4 4.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

20 19%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.0%

Still unwell when reported

12 11%

Died

29 28%

Euthanised

32 30%

Not known

11 10%

Problems reported at the same time

61 58%

42 40%

39 37%

34 32%

25 24%

23 22%

23 22%

20 19%

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 lateral recumbency in cats?: 105 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).

Lateral recumbency with similar medicines

Lateral recumbency after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 33 reports · 1.3% of its reports

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