Liver problems after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 213 reports of liver problems in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 3.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.8% across reports for all cat medicines.

213Reports

81%Marked serious

13%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

64 34%

1–2 days

64 34%

3–7 days

26 14%

1–4 weeks

13 6.8%

Over a month

23 12%

How the animals did

Recovered

27 13%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.5%

Still unwell when reported

78 37%

Died

38 18%

Euthanised

48 23%

Not known

21 9.9%

Problems reported at the same time

125 59%

98 46%

90 42%

85 40%

51 24%

51 24%

50 23%

43 20%

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 liver problems in cats?: 213 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).

Liver problems with similar medicines

Liver problems after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 90 reports · 3.4% of its reports

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