Vetergesic 0.3 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats

Animals administered opioids possessing sedative and analgesic properties
may show variable responses. Therefore, the responses 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 use of an analgesic from an alternative
class.

the person administering the medicinal product to the animal
i) Special Precautions for use in animals
Buprenorphine may occasionally cause significant respiratory depression
and, as with other opioid drugs, care should be taken when treating

Revised: September 2025
AN: 01877/2025
animals with impaired respiratory function or animals that are receiving
drugs that can cause respiratory depression. Volunteer studies in man
have indicated that opiate antagonists may not fully reverse the effects of
buprenorphine. Naloxone may be of benefit in reversing reduced
respiratory rate and respiratory stimulants such as Doxapram are also
effective in man. Because of the prolonged duration of effect of
buprenorphine in comparison to such drugs, they may need to be
administered repeatedly or by continuous infusion.
Buprenorphine may cause some drowsiness, which may be potentiated by
other centrally-acting agents, including tranquillisers, sedatives and
hypnotics. The product should not be used in conjunction with morphine
or other opioid-type analgesics (e.g. etorphine, fentanyl, pethidine,
methadone, papaveretum and butorphanol).
As buprenorphine is metabolised by the liver, its intensity and duration of
action may be affected in animals with impaired liver function.
Safety has not been fully evaluated in clinically compromised cats e.g.
those suffering from renal or hepatic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease
or shock. Use in such cases should be based on the risk-benefit
assessment of the veterinarian.
Repeated administration earlier than the recommended repeat interval
suggested in Section 4.9 is not recommended.
ii) Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the medicinal
product to the animals.
Wash hands/affected area thoroughly after any accidental spillage
Care should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection.
Following accidental self-injection or ingestion, seek medical advice taking
the product literature with you.
Following eye contamination or skin contact, wash thoroughly with cold
running water. Seek medical advice if irritation persists.