Wobbliness (ataxia) after Buprenorphine in cats

The FDA has received 319 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in cats after Buprenorphine. That is 5.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines.

319Reports

49%Marked serious

27%Recovered

17%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

136 48%

1–2 days

101 36%

3–7 days

10 3.5%

1–4 weeks

16 5.6%

Over a month

21 7.4%

How the animals did

Recovered

85 27%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.3%

Still unwell when reported

119 37%

Died

24 7.5%

Euthanised

31 9.7%

Not known

59 18%

Problems reported at the same time

116 36%

76 24%

74 23%

72 23%

55 17%

Eye or vision problems

49 15%

Restlessness or agitation

46 14%

Dysphoria

30 9.4%

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 wobbliness (ataxia) in cats?: 319 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 117 reports · 4.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in cats · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)