Buprenorphine in the face and not in the cat

bellel

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I just tried giving Pepper her buprenorphine. Somehow while I was syringing it into her mouth, it all (or almost all) sprayed backwards right into my face and eyes. I washed my face and took out my contacts but my eyes feel a little funny.

A. Do I need to try to give her another dose?

B. Am I going to be ok with buprenorphine in my eyes?
 

Geoffrey

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I just tried giving Pepper her buprenorphine. Somehow while I was syringing it into her mouth, it all (or almost all) sprayed backwards right into my face and eyes. I washed my face and took out my contacts but my eyes feel a little funny.

A. Do I need to try to give her another dose?

B. Am I going to be ok with buprenorphine in my eyes?
I am a human specialist in internal medicine, not a vet so any advice that I give on cats should be checked by a vet. 

A. Don't give Pepper any more to be on the safe side.  As you don't know how much of the Buprenorphine was absorbed by Pepper, it would be dangerous to give Pepper a repeat dose.  Buprenorphine is absorbed from the mucous membrane of Pepper's mouth so he may well have absorbed more than you think. 

B. I would think so.  A feline dose is much lower than a human dose.  In any case, a small dose of Buprenorphine would do no more than make you sleepy.  Be careful driving for the next six hours. I don't know where you live but I am writing from Australia at 11.30 in the morning so it may well be your evening.

With best wishes,

Geoffrey
 
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bellel

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Yes, I decided against the second dose. I'm hoping the gabapentin helps her with her pain until the morning.

Good news: it's 8:40 at night here in Georgia and I have no plans to go anywhere. :)

Thank you for your help! I'm going to wear my glasses next time I give her meds.
 

cat nap

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I just tried giving Pepper her buprenorphine. Somehow while I was syringing it into her mouth, it all (or almost all) sprayed backwards right into my face and eyes. I washed my face and took out my contacts but my eyes feel a little funny.

A. Do I need to try to give her another dose?

B. Am I going to be ok with buprenorphine in my eyes?
I would agree with @Geoffrey for part A: and not give another dose until the next scheduled time.

But for part B:  Make sure to flush the eyes with a lot of water...and Can you contact a physician or hospital to inquire about it.

It does say "Direct contact of SIMBADOL with the eyes, oral or other mucous membranes could result in absorption of buprenorphine and the potential for adverse reactions.

If accidental eye, oral or other mucous membrane contact is made during administration, flush the area with water and contact a physician."   ( excerpt taken from https://www.drugs.com/vet/simbadol-buprenorphine-injection.html)

I would feel better calling, just to make sure, because it is the eyes. (I guess I just need to be re-assured by phone, plus I'm sensitive to anything having to do with my eyes.)

I hope it wears off fast and you feel better.

And that your cat feels better, too.
 

Geoffrey

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I just tried giving Pepper her buprenorphine. Somehow while I was syringing it into her mouth, it all (or almost all) sprayed backwards right into my face and eyes. I washed my face and took out my contacts but my eyes feel a little funny.

A. Do I need to try to give her another dose?

B. Am I going to be ok with buprenorphine in my eyes?
I would agree with @Geoffrey for part A: and not give another dose until the next scheduled time.

But for part B:  Make sure to flush the eyes with a lot of water...and Can you contact a physician or hospital to inquire about it.

It does say "Direct contact of SIMBADOL with the eyes, oral or other mucous membranes could result in absorption of buprenorphine and the potential for adverse reactions.

If accidental eye, oral or other mucous membrane contact is made during administration, flush the area with water and contact a physician."   ( excerpt taken from https://www.drugs.com/vet/simbadol-buprenorphine-injection.html)

I would feel better calling, just to make sure, because it is the eyes. (I guess I just need to be re-assured by phone, plus I'm sensitive to anything having to do with my eyes.)

I hope it wears off fast and you feel better.

And that your cat feels better, too
Catnap, I am a Physician and, with all respect, I stick by my comments.  I saw from Belles first post that it was '28 minutes ago' when she typed her request for information.  I agree with you that she should have washed out her eyes immediately - but, after over half an hour, there was little need to do this as, by the time that she wrote, her tears would have done the job.  As for the dose that she may have absorbed I considered that this would have been too small to cause any major symptoms and there is nothing in buprenorphine that would have damaged her eyes..

With regards,

Geoffrey    
 
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cat nap

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Catnap, I am a Physician and, with all respect, I stick by my comments.

I saw from Belles first post that it was '28 minutes ago' when she typed her request for information.  She should have washed out her eyes immediately - but, after over half an hour, there was little need to wash out her eyes at the time that she wrote as the tears would have done the job.

With regards,

Geoffrey    
@Geoffrey... My post was not intended to mean you any disrespect.

I do know you are an internal medicine specialist, from what you wrote,...and I thoroughly appreciate reading your many posts and sound advice, on these forums.

My point was only, that I am super sensitive when it comes to eye problems or eyesight, and that hearing a person talking to me on the phone, is most reassuring.

I apologize if I was not clear about the phone part.

I think that BelleL did write that she washed her face immediately and took out her contacts, but that her eyes felt a little funny. It was that last part that had me worried.

Hopefully, by morning all is well.

Again, I did not mean you any disrespect.
 

Geoffrey

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Catnap, I am a Physician and, with all respect, I stick by my comments.

I saw from Belles first post that it was '28 minutes ago' when she typed her request for information.  She should have washed out her eyes immediately - but, after over half an hour, there was little need to wash out her eyes at the time that she wrote as the tears would have done the job.

With regards,

Geoffrey    
@Geoffrey... My post was not intended to mean you any disrespect.

I do know you are an internal medicine specialist, from what you wrote,...and I thoroughly appreciate reading your many posts and sound advice, on these forums.

My point was only, that I am super sensitive when it comes to eye problems or eyesight, and that hearing a person talking to me on the phone, is most reassuring.

I apologize if I was not clear about the phone part.

I think that BelleL did write that she washed her face immediately and took out her contacts, but that her eyes felt a little funny. It was that last part that had me worried.

Hopefully, by morning all is well.

Again, I did not mean you any disrespect.
cat nap,  There has been no offence taken, thank you for clarifying your post.  We all have to be very careful about eyes but I did not think there would have been any damage to the eyes from the Buprenorphine which is a relatively mild opioid.. 

With best wishes,

Geoffrey
 
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cat nap

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cat nap,  There has been no offence taken, thank you for clarifying your post.  We all have to be very careful about eyes but I did not think there would have been any damage to the eyes from the Buprenorphine which is a relatively mild opioid.. 

With best wishes,

Geoffrey
Thank you for your reply, Geoffrey, and understanding.

(If I lived in Australia, I would have probably needed you to call me for reassurance...but that is just one of my 'hang-ups' ...not 'BelleL's.

I have to remember to word my posts, a little better or clearer.)

Cheers, and have a great weekend.
 
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bellel

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Hi Geoffrey and cat nap! I am ok. I would've posted sooner but I was cleaning up after the hurricane. My eyes are fine. I checked with Poison Control who also stated I would be okay. Thank you for your help and concern. I've learned to point her mouth away from my face and wear glasses just in case. :)
 

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Hi Geoffrey and cat nap! I am ok. I would've posted sooner but I was cleaning up after the hurricane. My eyes are fine. I checked with Poison Control who also stated I would be okay. Thank you for your help and concern. I've learned to point her mouth away from my face and wear glasses just in case.
Thanks so much for your update @BelleL

So glad that you're okay.

(And glad that you're okay from Hurricane Matthew, too. I hope the hurricane did not do too much damage.)

Hoping that your Pepper is doing better with her pain meds, too. 
 
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