Increased respiratory rate after Buprenorphine in dogs

27 reports to the FDA describe increased respiratory rate in dogs given Buprenorphine. That is 1.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

27Reports

96%Marked serious

26%Recovered

41%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

12 50%

1–2 days

5 21%

3–7 days

3 13%

1–4 weeks

1 4.2%

Over a month

3 13%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 26%

Still unwell when reported

7 26%

Died

2 7.4%

Euthanised

9 33%

Not known

2 7.4%

Problems reported at the same time

13 48%

12 44%

11 41%

11 41%

10 37%

10 37%

9 33%

Abnormal radiograph finding

8 30%

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 increased respiratory rate in dogs?: 27 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).

Increased respiratory rate with similar medicines

Increased respiratory rate after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 26 reports · 0.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in dogs · Medicines most reported with increased respiratory rate