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 Buprenorphine
Although buprenorphine may not have the
name recognition of some drugs, it is nonetheless
a great pain medication for cats.
Buprenorphine is a potent opioid painkiller. Like all effective painkillers of it's class, it is manufactured mainly for use in humans. However, it turns out to be an excellent medication to give to cats. For a detailed discussion of how buprenorphine works, click the link to go to another article on Pain Management. For the short version, let's just say that buprenorphine acts on opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to decrease pain in much the same way as morphine or demerol would. Anyone who has ever had either of these drugs will attest to their wonderful pain-killing properties.
Some folks who have had morphine or demerol will also be able to attest to some of their undesirable proporties. Some humans do not do well on them, experiencing nausea or delirium. Cats are especially prone to experience the adverse effects, or "bad trip" that opioids can produce. That is reason one why buprenorphine is so good for cats: Buprenorphine almost never produces these types of adverse events in cats.
Buprenorphine is generally given as an injection. It is rapidly destroyed by the body if swallowed and taken orally. However, in cats only, the pH of the mouth is such that buprenorphine is rapidly absorbed across the gums. Thus, it is in a form that does not have to be given as a pill or injected, both of which can be difficult in cats. T his is reason two why buprenorphine is so good for cats.
Buprenorphine is dispensed in pre-loaded single-dose syringes with a plastic cap on them. You will need to give your cat one dose every 12 hours, morning and night. But, the goal is to give it slowly a little at a time so the cat won't swallow it. If your cat swallows the buprenorphine, it's pain-killing effects will be minimized.
How to give buprenorphine: Remove the plastic cap. Gently insert the syringe tip in your cat's mouth. Give your cat about 1/4 of a syringe or less at a time. Give another 1/4 syringe every 2 or 3 minutes or so until the syringe is empty. Throw the empty syringe away. Give one syringe-full every 12 hours until gone. Keep this and any other medication out of reach of children.
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