Pacing after Butorphanol in cats

The FDA has received 32 reports of pacing in cats after Butorphanol. That is 1.4% 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.

32Reports

28%Marked serious

34%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

21 70%

1–2 days

7 23%

3–7 days

1 3.3%

1–4 weeks

1 3.3%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 34%

Still unwell when reported

13 41%

Euthanised

4 13%

Not known

4 13%

Problems reported at the same time

Restlessness or agitation

15 47%

14 44%

12 38%

10 31%

6 19%

6 19%

4 13%

4 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Butorphanol cause pacing in cats?: 32 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).

Pacing with similar medicines

Pacing after Ketamine 22 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Pacing after Isoflurane 40 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Pacing after Propofol 29 reports · 2.5% of its reports
Pacing after Midazolam 26 reports · 3.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Butorphanol in cats · Medicines most reported with pacing