Pet owners warn opioid pain reliever makes cats act like zombies
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Zombie cats – that is how some people describe their pets on an opioid pain medication.
The FDA has received hundreds of reports of cat deaths linked to the drug.
Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Sophia Choi took complaints of some serious side effects to the drugmaker.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Pet owners told Choi they never knew about the risks, and in some cases were not even told their pet got the drug.
Boots, an 8-year-old cat, now cries for no reason and walks with a tilted head. Teresa Nichols said the changes happened after Boots got the drug Zorbium.
The cat got the drops behind its neck in January after getting some teeth pulled and was never the same, she said.
'His claw, his feet on his right side were clubbed in. You know his eyes blown out,' Nichols said.
Boots suffered a stroke. That was determined by his veterinarian and Elanco, the maker of the drug, which paid for a portion of the care.
Boots survived, but it took months of 24-hour care from Nichols, including fluids through an IV bag and needle.
'He couldn't drink water. He couldn't eat,' she said.
Zorbium is the only drug of its kind approved by the FDA after the maker did its own study showing no deaths and few negative reactions.
But the site Zorbiumlawsuit.com analyzed data from the FDA website and found 282 reports of cat deaths linked to Zorbium between its release in 2022 and 2024.
'That's a lot of cat deaths, considering there were none in the clinical trials or in the follow-up,' said Josh Sharlin, Ph.D., a former FDA scientist turned expert witness.
TRENDING STORIES:
He said it takes time to learn if a drug is safe.
'I tell myself if a drug has been out for 3-5 years, then I will consider using it,' Sharlin said.
Only veterinarians can administer the controlled opioid for pain relief after surgery.
One dose should last for four days.
Monica Coleman said the side effects lasted much longer for their cats, 1-year-old Aghora and 10-year-old Ginger.
Both got the drug last year: Aghora got it after being spayed, and Ginger got it after surgery to remove her mammary glands because of cancer.
Monica said Ginger could not eat or sleep for several days before recovering.
'She couldn't close her eyes at all. She was pacing all the time,' said Coleman.
It took longer for Aghora to recover – a week.
Coleman said she looked like a zombie - just staring with huge pupils.
'You know, staring into space. She was really high,' she said.
Elanco lists some possible side effects, such as hypothermia and hypertension, but nothing about these unusual side effects or death.
But the drug is so strong Elanco warns: 'Accidental exposure to even one tube of Zorbium, especially in children, can result in a fatal overdose of buprenorphine.'
Elanco responded to our questions in a statement:
'First and foremost, as pet lovers, we are always saddened to hear about any issues involving a pet. Pets are part of our families, and our goal as a leading animal health company is to help animals live longer, healthier, more active lives. We live this mission daily as we continually strive to bring pet owners and veterinarians new products that solve unmet needs. Prior to the approval of Zorbium in 2022, there were limited options for post-surgical pain management in cats.
'Since Zorbium was approved, the product has filled an important need for veterinarians, helping provide safe, effective, and reliable pain relief to their post-operative feline patients and removing pet owners' burden of care to administer additional pain medication at home. Overall, the estimated incidence of serious adverse events are rare, with fewer than 10 for every 10,000 units sold, from the approval date on January 20, 2022 through September 2024. It's also important to remember that an adverse event report does not imply a causal relationship between a product and must be further investigated to determine cause.
'Additionally, events cannot be viewed in isolation due to potentially confounding factors. For example, all anesthesia and surgical procedures carry inherent risk, independent of Zorbium administration, especially in cats with pre-existing conditions; and anesthesia or surgical procedures can exacerbate underlying and unknown conditions.
'Elanco employs a team of licensed veterinarians and veterinary professionals trained in pharmacovigilance to investigate all adverse event reports and continuously and rigorously analyze safety data to ensure the overall benefits of each approved drug outweigh potential risk. Elanco and the FDA continuously review data to ensure safe and effective products are being provided to veterinarians and pet owners.
'All the available data we have today supports the safety and efficacy profile of Zorbium. We encourage pet owners and veterinarians alike to report all adverse events for any pet health products.'
Some pet owners said their veterinarians never told them their cats got the drug.
Nichols said she only found out after seeing it listed on her receipt – 20 milligrams costing $56.20. Her veterinarian is no longer using Zorbium.
Instead, she said they are warning others.
'I wouldn't touch that drug again, and I wouldn't recommend anybody using it. I mean, you're taking a risk,' Nichols said.
Pet owners can make sure they are alerted when a veterinarian is planning to use Zorbium on their cat by asking questions before agreeing to the surgery.
They can ask what kind of pain relief is involved with aftercare and how long the drug has been on the market.
They can get a copy of the drug's insert and read it.
Again, FDA expert witness Josh Sharlin, Ph.D. said if a drug is new you may want to wait to see what kinds of side effects arise before you agree to use it.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
3 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
‘Gas station heroin' is technically illegal and widely available. Here are the facts
WASHINGTON — Health officials want you to think twice before buying one of those brightly colored little bottles often sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops. Sometimes called 'gas station heroin,' the products are usually marketed as energy shots or cognitive supplements but actually contain tianeptine, an unapproved drug that can be addictive and carries risks of serious side effects. U.S. poison control centers have reported a steady rise in calls linked to the drug for more than a decade. And last month the Food and Drug Administration sent a warning to health professionals about 'the magnitude of the underlying danger or these products.' Here's what to know about gas station heroin. Tianeptine is approved in a number of foreign countries as an antidepressant, usually as a low-dose pill taken three times a day. But it has never been approved by the FDA for any medical condition in the U.S. Additionally, the drug cannot legally be added to foods and beverages or sold as a dietary supplement — something the FDA has repeatedly warned U.S. companies about. Still, under-the-radar firms sell tianeptine in various formulas, often with brand names like Zaza, Tianaa, Pegasus and TD Red. Although that is technically illegal, the FDA does not preapprove ingredients added to supplements and beverages. 'It's kind of this gray area of consumer products, or supplements, where the contents are not regulated or tested the way they would be with a medication,' said Dr. Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. Last year, Calello and her colleagues published a study documenting a cluster of emergency calls in New Jersey tied to a flavored elixir called Neptune's Fix. People experienced distress, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure and seizures after drinking it. More than a dozen of the 20 patients had to be admitted for intensive care. Many tianeptine products claim — without evidence or FDA approval — to help users treat medical conditions, including addiction, pain and depression. In 2018, the FDA issued a warning letter to the maker of a product called Tianna, which claimed to provide 'an unparalleled solution to cravings for opiates.' While tianeptine is not an opioid, the drug binds to some of the same receptors in the brain, which can temporarily produce effects akin to oxycodone and other opioids. Tianeptine also carries some of the same physiological risks of opioids, including the potential to dangerously depress breathing. 'That's what tends to get people into trouble,' said Dr. Hannah Hays of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. 'They use it for opioid-like effects or to self-treat opioid withdrawal and that can lead to slow breathing and problems like that.' People dealing with opioid addiction, pain, depression, anxiety and other conditions should see a health professional to get a prescription for FDA-approved treatments, Hays said. Experts aren't sure but national figures show a big rise in emergency calls involving the drug. Calls to poison control centers increased 525% between 2018 and 2023, according to a data analysis published earlier this year. In about 40% of cases, the person had to seek medical care, with more than half of them needing critical care. One explanation for the rise in calls is simply that more Americans are using the products. But experts also say that the products are triggering more emergencies as they become more potent and dangerous. And the researchers in New Jersey who analyzed Neptune's Fix found that the liquid also contained synthetic cannabis and other drugs. 'You never quite know what's in that bottle,' Calello said. 'It's important for people to know that even if they have used a product before, they could get a bottle that contains something very different from what they're looking for.' Tianeptine is not included in the federal Controlled Substances Act, which bans or restricts drugs that have no medical use or have a high potential for abuse, such as heroin, LSD and PCP. But about a dozen states have passed laws prohibiting or restricting tianeptine, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Tennessee. In some cases, those laws have led to more cases of withdrawal among users of tianeptine, which can be chemically addictive. But state data also show some success in reducing harm tied to the drug. Until recently, Alabama had the highest rate of tianeptine-related calls in the southern U.S., which increased more than 1,400% from 2018-21. But after the state restricted tianeptine in 2021, calls began modestly decreasing while calls across other Southern states continued to climb. Perrone writes for the Associated Press.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Popular Dried Fruit Recalled From 19 States for ‘Possible Health Risk
A recall of more than 300 cases of Floria Dried Apricots is underway due to a "possible health risk," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said this week. Turkana Food Inc., which is based out of Kenilworth, New Jersey, pulled 352 cases of the dried fruit snack from shelves in 19 states, the FDA announced Thursday. The reason for the recall is that the packaging for the dried apricots did not indicate they contained sulfites. Sulfites are commonly used as a preservative in food and drinks, but some people could have allergic reactions to them. "The recall was the result of a routine sampling performed by the New York State Department of Agriculture and markets which revealed that the finished products contained Sulfites that were not listed on the product labelling," the FDA said. "The company has ceased production and distribution of the products as FDA and the company continue their investigation to correct the issue with the manufacturer." The 200-gram paper packaged apricots were taken off the market in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The packages of apricots contain the lot number '440090478-15-333' and universal package code label '2539560010." They list their expiration date as November 2026, per the recall notice. Anyone who bought the recalled apricots can return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. As of now, no illnesses have been reported. Popular Dried Fruit Recalled From 19 States for 'Possible Health Risk first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 14, 2025
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dr Pepper Has Recalled Thousands of Cases of Soda
In perhaps the funniest mislabeling blunder ever, Pepsi Beverages Company is recalling over 19,000 cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar products because they actually do, in fact, contain sugar. Whoops! The Class II recall has a low risk of serious health consequences, but temporary or reversible effects may occur, according to the FDA. To date, no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported. While the recall pertains to a large amount of product, the sodas in question were only distributed to retail locations in three states—Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia. The affected products were packaged in 12 fl oz. aluminum cans in both 12-pack and 24-pack cartons and have a "best by" date of February 16, 2026 and product code XXXXRS05165. While the average consumer might not have issues with accidentally consuming these mislabeled products, the error could indeed pose health risks for people with diabetes or anyone with conditions instructed to monitor their sugar intake. A can of regular Dr Pepper contains 39 grams of sugar, while Dr Pepper Zero Sugar, obviously is meant to contain zero. The latter does, however, contain artificial sweeteners and additional ingredients like aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sodium phosphate. Good thing we have a doctor in the house. All recalled products should either be thrown away or returned to your place of purchase. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
