Weight loss after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 212 reports of weight loss in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 3.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.6% across reports for all cat medicines.

212Reports

68%Marked serious

15%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

54 29%

1–2 days

44 24%

3–7 days

27 15%

1–4 weeks

27 15%

Over a month

32 17%

How the animals did

Recovered

30 14%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.5%

Still unwell when reported

85 40%

Died

15 7.1%

Euthanised

38 18%

Not known

43 20%

Problems reported at the same time

151 71%

95 45%

55 26%

53 25%

49 23%

49 23%

41 19%

39 18%

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 weight loss in cats?: 212 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 2 days 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).

Weight loss with similar medicines

Weight loss after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 56 reports · 2.1% of its reports

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