Swelling after Buprenorphine in cats

187 reports to the FDA describe swelling in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 3.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

187Reports

58%Marked serious

25%Recovered

26%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

86 49%

1–2 days

41 23%

3–7 days

28 16%

1–4 weeks

15 8.5%

Over a month

6 3.4%

How the animals did

Recovered

46 25%

Still unwell when reported

61 33%

Died

26 14%

Euthanised

23 12%

Not known

31 17%

Problems reported at the same time

52 28%

48 26%

36 19%

35 19%

32 17%

Abnormal radiograph finding

26 14%

Liver problems

23 12%

Kidney problems

22 12%

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 swelling in cats?: 187 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).

Swelling with similar medicines

Swelling after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 119 reports · 4.5% of its reports

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