Neurological disorder after Buprenorphine in cats

31 reports to the FDA describe neurological disorder in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 0.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

31Reports

61%Marked serious

19%Recovered

32%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 48%

1–2 days

10 34%

3–7 days

2 6.9%

1–4 weeks

1 3.4%

Over a month

2 6.9%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 19%

Still unwell when reported

10 32%

Died

4 13%

Euthanised

6 19%

Not known

5 16%

Problems reported at the same time

13 42%

10 32%

10 32%

7 23%

7 23%

7 23%

7 23%

7 23%

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 neurological disorder in cats?: 31 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).

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