Veterinarians ever heard of Subutex?

July 26, 2005 6:56 PM

Can anyone explain the difference between Subutex and Buprenex, specifically the dosing and effectiveness, for veterinary usage? (Kitty Cat)

Our cat was prescribed Subutex (instead of Buprenex) for pain, and we don't understand why or whether it's the right dose. Two other vets we have seen in the course of diagnosis and treatment had never heard of it-- it's a specific brand name for buprenorphine that is used to treat opiate dependence in humans. A similar medication, Suboxone, includes Naloxone- an opiate antagonist, but Subutex does not. We also called a veterinary compounding pharmacy, and the helpful young man had never heard of it. He looked it up, and calculated that it was prescribed in a dosage that was four times too strong for our 8 pound cat. But he didn't want to directly contradict our vet.

In the past, after surgeries, a couple of our cats, including the one in question, have been prescribed Buprenex at a strength of 0.2 and/or 0.3 mg per ml, to be given 0.15 ml four times a day.

This time, (though not prescribed for after surgery, but rather for suspected pancreatitis and/or cancer) the Subutex (compounded into a liquid at our request) was prescribed at a strength of 2 mg per ml, to be given 0.25 ml every 4-6 hrs.

We don't really understand why Subutex would be preferable to this vet, and are wondering if there are other vets prescribing it, and whether this strength and dosing are in a safe range. Obviously, we'd like to inform the vet if it is dangerous.

posted by overanxious ducksqueezer to pets & animals (3 comments total)

Have you asked the vet? That should be the first thing you do. Call up and ask -- this is a normal part of their job and won't be a big deal. (This is also important to do in case it is a mistake)

If you can't discover a special reason why this medication would be preferable, ask for a prescription for the more typical medication/dose (from another vet if you're having trouble communicating with the current vet). Ask how to judge whether the medication is effective.

In any case, watch the cat for unusual symptoms
posted by winston at 7:17 PM on July 26, 2005

What winston said. It's entirely possible that the medication and dosage are relatively new (studies often end up with recommended changes to current dosage policies, and not all vets keep up with things at the same rate).
posted by biscotti at 7:46 PM on July 26, 2005

Thanks, we are planning to speak to the prescribing vet. But given that we can't find any reference to Subutex for veterinary use on any of the inter-nets, and nobody (including a vet that offers seminars on pain care to other vets) seems to have heard of it, some of us are deeply concerned. I won't be satisified until I find independent corroboration, which is why I asked here. Should we call the pharm company next? Is there a better place for me to ask this question-- over the phone or online or in person?
posted by overanxious ducksqueezer at 11:42 AM on July 27, 2005