Brands

Buprenex

Description

A narcotic/opiate agonist/antagonist, and a thebaine derivative, providing long acting analgesia. It binds to brain receptors, relieving pain. It decreases the feeling of pain and response to pain.

Uses

Post-surgical pain relief.

Dosage

  • 0.02-0.50 mg/kg by injection every 6-12 hours (20)
  • 0.05 mg/kg by injection twice daily (27)
  • 0.01-0.02 mg/ml drinking water (27)
  • Give 0.005 mg/kg IM every 4-6 hours (27)

Side Effects

  • Sedation and lethargy
  • Agitation
  • Heart rate decrease
  • Respiratory depression
  • Constipation
  • Itching
  • Renal problems

Warnings

May cause a decrease in both blood pressure and cardiac rate

The LD50 (overdose rate) of Buprenorphine has been reported to be 243 mg/kg in rats. Therefore acute overdoses should be a rare event in veterinary medicine. In such a case however, treatment with naloxone and doxapram has been suggested in cases with respiratory or cardiac effects.