POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Bupaq Multidose 0.3 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats

Active ingredient: Buprenorphine

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Dogs

Manufacturer

VetViva Richter GmbH

VMD MA No.

57446/4001

What it's used for

Potentiation of the sedative effects of centrally-acting agents. Cats Post-operative analgesia.

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

The prescription itself has a price. See what practices near you charge for a consultation and the written prescription fee.

Paying less for Buprenorphine

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

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Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Bupaq Multidose 0.3 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

Potentiation of the sedative effects of centrally-acting agents.
Cats
Post-operative analgesia.

To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as
possible. The use of suitably calibrated measuring equipment is recommended.
Dogs: Post-operative analgesia, potentiation of the sedation
AN: 03144/2024 & 03146/2024
Cats: Post-operative analgesia
10 - 20 micrograms of buprenorphine hydrochloride per kg bodyweight (i.e. 0.3 - 0.6
ml of the veterinary medicinal product per 10 kg).
For further pain relief the dose may be repeated if necessary:
Dogs: either after 3 - 4 hours with 10 micrograms of buprenorphine hydrochloride per
kg bodyweight.
or after 5 - 6 hours with 20 micrograms of buprenorphine hydrochloride per
kg bodyweight.
Cats: Once, after 1 - 2 hours with 10 - 20 micrograms of buprenorphine
hydrochloride per kg bodyweight.
While sedative effects are present by 15 minutes after administration, analgesic
activity becomes apparent after approximately 30 minutes. To ensure that analgesia
is present during surgery and immediately on recovery, the veterinary medicinal
product should be administered preoperatively as part of premedication.
When administered for potentiation of sedation or as part of premedication, the dose
of other centrally-acting agents, such as acepromazine or medetomidine, should be
reduced. The reduction will depend on the degree of sedation required, the individual
animal, the type of other agents included in premedication and how anaesthesia is to
be induced and maintained. It may also be possible to reduce the amount of
inhalational anaesthetic used.
Animals administered opioids possessing sedative and analgesic properties may
show variable responses. Therefore, the response of individual animals should be
monitored and subsequent doses should be adjusted accordingly. In some cases,
repeat doses may fail to provide additional analgesia. In these cases, consideration
should be given to using a suitable injectable NSAID.
The rubber stopper can be punctured a maximum of 25 times.

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the
excipients.
Do not administer by the intrathecal or peridural route.
Do not use pre-operatively for Caesarian section (see section 3.7).
AN: 03144/2024 & 03146/2024

Dogs:
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10 000
animals treated):
Hypertension, Tachycardia;
Sedation
.
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10 000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Injection site reaction
, Injection site pain
;
Vocalisation
.
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data):
Hypersalivation;
Bradycardia;
Hypothermia, Dehydration;
Agitation;
Miosis;
Respiratory depression.
When used to provide analgesia. May occur at dose levels higher than those
recommended.
With local discomfort. The effect is normally temporary.
Caused by injection site pain.
Cats:
Common
(1 to 10 animals / 100 animals
treated):
Mydriasis
;
Behavioural disorder
1,2
.
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10 000
animals treated):
Sedation
. Very rare
(<1 animal / 10 000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Injection site reaction
, Injection site pain
;
Vocalisation
.
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data):
Respiratory depression.
Will usually resolve within 24 hours.
Signs of euphoria (excessive purring, pacing, rubbing).
When used to provide analgesia. May occur at dose levels higher than those
recommended.
With local discomfort. The effect is normally temporary.
Caused by injection site pain.
AN: 03144/2024 & 03146/2024
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or the national competent authority via the
national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

None.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
Use of the veterinary medicinal product in the below circumstances should only be in
accordance with the benefit-risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian.
Buprenorphine may cause respiratory depression and as with other opioid drugs,
care should be taken when treating animals with impaired respiratory function or
animals that are receiving drugs that can cause respiratory depression.
In case of renal, cardiac or hepatic dysfunction or shock, there may be greater risk
associated with the use of the veterinary medicinal product.
Safety has not been fully evaluated in clinically compromised cats.
Buprenorphine should be used with caution in animals with impaired liver function,
especially biliary tract disease, as the substance is metabolised by the liver and its
intensity and duration of action may be affected in such animals.
The safety of buprenorphine has not been demonstrated in animals less than 7
weeks of age.
Repeat administration earlier than the recommended repeat interval suggested in
section 3.9 is not recommended.
Long-term safety of buprenorphine in cats has not been investigated beyond 5
consecutive days of administration.
The effect of an opioid on head injury is dependent on the type and severity of the
injury and the respiratory support supplied.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
Wash hands/affected area thoroughly after any accidental spillage.
As buprenorphine has opioid-like activity, care should be taken to avoid self-injection.
In case of accidental self-injection or ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and
show the package leaflet or the label to the physician. Naloxone should be available
in case of accidental parenteral exposure.
In case of accidental eye contamination or spillage onto skin, wash thoroughly with
cold running water. Seek medical advice if irritation persists.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.
AN: 03144/2024 & 03146/2024

Buprenorphine may cause some drowsiness, which may be potentiated by other
centrally acting agents, including tranquillisers, sedatives, and hypnotics.
There is evidence in humans to indicate that therapeutic doses of buprenorphine do
not reduce the analgesic efficacy of standard doses of an opioid agonist, and that
when buprenorphine is employed within the normal therapeutic range, standard
doses of opioid agonist may be administered before the effects of the former have
ended without compromising analgesia. However, it is recommended that
buprenorphine is not used in conjunction with morphine or other opioid-type
analgesics, e.g. etorphine, fentanyl, pethidine, methadone, papaveretum or
butorphanol.
Buprenorphine has been used with acepromazine, alphaxalone/alphadalone,
atropine, dexmedetomidine, halothane, isoflurane, ketamine, medetomidine, propofol,
sevoflurane, thiopental and xylazine. When used in combination with sedatives,
depressive effects on heart rate and respiration may be augmented.

Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Do not refrigerate or freeze.

Not applicable.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.