Urine abnormalities after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 41 reports of urine abnormalities in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 0.7% 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.

41Reports

63%Marked serious

9.8%Recovered

24%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 36%

1–2 days

15 42%

3–7 days

4 11%

1–4 weeks

2 5.6%

Over a month

2 5.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 9.8%

Still unwell when reported

12 29%

Died

4 9.8%

Euthanised

6 15%

Not known

15 37%

Problems reported at the same time

14 34%

14 34%

11 27%

10 24%

10 24%

9 22%

8 20%

7 17%

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 urine abnormalities in cats?: 41 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 urine abnormalities