Underdose after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 49 reports of underdose in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 0.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.7% across reports for all cat medicines.

49Reports

45%Marked serious

39%Recovered

14%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

32 68%

1–2 days

5 11%

3–7 days

5 11%

1–4 weeks

3 6.4%

Over a month

2 4.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

19 39%

Still unwell when reported

17 35%

Died

4 8.2%

Euthanised

3 6.1%

Not known

6 12%

Problems reported at the same time

Restlessness or agitation

12 24%

8 16%

8 16%

7 14%

7 14%

Didn't work as expected

6 12%

Vocalising

6 12%

Fever

5 10%

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 underdose in cats?: 49 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).

Underdose with similar medicines

Underdose after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 62 reports · 2.4% of its reports

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