FDA Approves First Transdermal Buprenorphine for the Control of Post-Surgical Pain in Cats

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zorbium (buprenorphine transdermal solution), the first transdermal buprenorphine animal drug intended to control pain in cats after surgery.

Buprenorphine is an opioid pain medication that works by acting on pain receptors in the central nervous system. Zorbium is a solution that is applied to the skin at the base of the neck of the cat and is rapidly absorbed into the layers of the skin. It provides pain relief within 1 to 2 hours following administration and continually releases buprenorphine into the body over a period of days. A single application provides pain relief to the cat for four days. Because Zorbium is a long-acting transdermal solution applied in the veterinary hospital, it may eliminate or reduce the need for cat owners to administer additional pain medications.

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