Urinary retention after Buprenorphine in cats

52 reports to the FDA describe urinary retention in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 0.9% 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.

52Reports

44%Marked serious

40%Recovered

7.7%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

17 35%

1–2 days

22 46%

3–7 days

3 6.3%

1–4 weeks

5 10%

Over a month

1 2.1%

How the animals did

Recovered

21 40%

Still unwell when reported

13 25%

Euthanised

4 7.7%

Not known

14 27%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

15 29%

Restlessness or agitation

15 29%

13 25%

8 15%

7 13%

7 13%

5 9.6%

5 9.6%

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 urinary retention in cats?: 52 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 urinary retention