Wobbliness (ataxia) after Butorphanol in cats

The FDA has received 152 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in cats after Butorphanol. That is 6.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines.

152Reports
43%Marked serious
18%Recovered
11%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
SponsoredWorried about your pet? Ask a veterinarian online, 24/7

How soon it started

Same day
56 60%
1–2 days
27 29%
3–7 days
3 3.2%
1–4 weeks
6 6.5%
Over a month
1 1.1%

How the animals did

Recovered
28 18%
Still unwell when reported
51 34%
Died
6 3.9%
Euthanised
11 7.2%
Not known
56 37%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
52
1–3 years
14
4–7 years
23
8–11 years
31
12+ years
25

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Butorphanol cause wobbliness (ataxia) in cats?
152 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

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