Wobbliness after Buprenorphine in cats

48 reports to the FDA describe wobbliness in cats given Buprenorphine. That is 0.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

48Reports

40%Marked serious

33%Recovered

6.3%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

27 57%

1–2 days

13 28%

3–7 days

1 2.1%

1–4 weeks

4 8.5%

Over a month

2 4.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

16 33%

Still unwell when reported

18 38%

Died

2 4.2%

Euthanised

1 2.1%

Not known

11 23%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

22 46%

Behaviour change

21 44%

Restlessness or agitation

17 35%

17 35%

11 23%

8 17%

8 17%

8 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 wobbliness in cats?: 48 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).

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