Lymphopenia after Buprenorphine in dogs

52 reports to the FDA describe lymphopenia in dogs given Buprenorphine. That is 3.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

52Reports

94%Marked serious

3.8%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 33%

1–2 days

12 29%

3–7 days

3 7.1%

1–4 weeks

3 7.1%

Over a month

10 24%

How the animals did

Recovered

1 1.9%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.9%

Still unwell when reported

17 33%

Died

4 7.7%

Euthanised

17 33%

Not known

12 23%

Problems reported at the same time

40 77%

36 69%

34 65%

31 60%

26 50%

26 50%

Abnormal radiograph finding

23 44%

Death

21 40%

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 lymphopenia in dogs?: 52 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).

Lymphopenia with similar medicines

Lymphopenia after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) 46 reports · 0.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Buprenorphine in dogs · Medicines most reported with lymphopenia