A Guide to Buprenex, an Medical Opiate for Pets Helping Relieve Pain in Cats and Dogs

A synthetic partial opiate, Buprenex acts as an analgesic that is used primarily to help manage and dull pain, such as in pre, during, and post op patients, as well as in cats and dogs with severe chronic pain. A drug 30 times stronger than morphine, Buprenex is no joke when it comes to managing pain, and should be treated seriously, since it has a hefty amount of potential for misuse.

Pets with liver disease, suffering a respiratory depression, or a known sensitivity to opiates should never be put on Buprenex. Caution should be taken when giving to pets with hyperthyroidism, severe renal insufficiency, Addison’s disease, or are elderly/seriously debilitated. Pets that are taking Buprenex for a serious head trauma, high cerebrospinal fluid levels, or problems with their central nervous system should also be treated with extreme caution. Buprenex should not be given to patients taking MAOIs, opiate agonists or antagonists, protein bound drugs, naloxone, or pancuronium bromide.

0.005 - 0.02 mg/kg, taken either Intramuscularly, Intravenously, subcutaneously, or orally, every 6-12 hours.

The main side effects for Buprenex are respiratory depression and sedation. Buprenex is also habit forming, and should not be given to pets for extended periods of time.

Buprenorphine