Staring after Buprenorphine in cats

124 reports to the FDA describe staring in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 2.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

124Reports

41%Marked serious

29%Recovered

12%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

84 69%

1–2 days

22 18%

3–7 days

4 3.3%

1–4 weeks

6 4.9%

Over a month

6 4.9%

How the animals did

Recovered

35 28%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.8%

Still unwell when reported

45 36%

Died

8 6.5%

Euthanised

7 5.6%

Not known

28 23%

Problems reported at the same time

57 46%

53 43%

52 42%

50 40%

Restlessness or agitation

43 35%

Not drinking

24 19%

Lethargy

21 17%

Dysphoria

19 15%

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 staring in cats?: 124 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).

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