Lethargy after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 762 reports of lethargy in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 14% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 14% across reports for all cat medicines.

762Reports

55%Marked serious

23%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

278 40%

1–2 days

224 32%

3–7 days

79 11%

1–4 weeks

68 9.7%

Over a month

49 7.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

171 22%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.1%

Still unwell when reported

256 34%

Died

90 12%

Euthanised

103 14%

Not known

141 19%

Problems reported at the same time

455 60%

190 25%

138 18%

132 17%

108 14%

105 14%

103 14%

98 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

149

8–11 years

151

12+ years

217

About this medicine

Buprenorphine pain relief (an opioid).

Questions owners ask

Can Buprenorphine cause lethargy in cats?: 762 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).

Lethargy with similar medicines

Lethargy after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 242 reports · 9.2% of its reports

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