Cardiac arrest after Alfaxalone in cats

22 reports to the FDA describe cardiac arrest in cats given Alfaxalone. That is 4.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.8% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

22Reports
100%Marked serious
0.0%Recovered
82%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
18 86%
1–2 days
2 9.5%
3–7 days
1 4.8%
1–4 weeks
0 0.0%
Over a month
0 0.0%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported
4 18%
Died
15 68%
Euthanised
3 14%

Problems reported at the same time

18 82%
Apnoea
6 27%
Respiratory arrest
4 18%
Cardiac disorder
3 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
6
1–3 years
3
4–7 years
3
8–11 years
3
12+ years
7

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Alfaxalone cause cardiac arrest in cats?
22 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?
In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?
Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Alfaxalone in cats · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest