Restlessness or agitation after Buprenorphine in cats

935 reports to the FDA describe restlessness or agitation in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 17% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

935Reports

17%Marked serious

34%Recovered

5.0%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

562 65%

1–2 days

214 25%

3–7 days

33 3.8%

1–4 weeks

32 3.7%

Over a month

21 2.4%

How the animals did

Recovered

316 34%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.1%

Still unwell when reported

301 32%

Died

27 2.9%

Euthanised

20 2.1%

Not known

270 29%

Problems reported at the same time

341 36%

251 27%

218 23%

211 23%

118 13%

88 9.4%

87 9.3%

70 7.5%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

199

1–3 years

4–7 years

147

8–11 years

147

12+ years

189

About this medicine

Buprenorphine pain relief (an opioid).

Questions owners ask

Can Buprenorphine cause restlessness or agitation in cats?: 935 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 the same 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).

Restlessness or agitation with similar medicines

Restlessness or agitation after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 207 reports · 7.9% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Butorphanol + Dexmedetomidine + Ketamine 23 reports · 18% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in cats · Medicines most reported with restlessness or agitation