Hypotension after Alfaxalone in cats

The FDA has received 27 reports of hypotension in cats after Alfaxalone. That is 5.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

27Reports

56%Marked serious

67%Recovered

19%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

17 81%

1–2 days

1 4.8%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

2 9.5%

Over a month

1 4.8%

How the animals did

Recovered

18 67%

Still unwell when reported

4 15%

Died

2 7.4%

Euthanised

3 11%

Problems reported at the same time

7 26%

6 22%

6 22%

5 19%

Hypokalaemia

3 11%

Breathing problems

3 11%

Prolonged anaesthesia

2 7.4%

Cardiac disorder

2 7.4%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Alfaxalone cause hypotension in cats?: 27 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).

Hypotension with similar medicines

Hypotension after Ketamine 39 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Hypotension after Butorphanol 41 reports · 1.8% of its reports
Hypotension after Isoflurane 70 reports · 3.4% of its reports
Hypotension after Propofol 49 reports · 4.2% of its reports
Hypotension after Midazolam 26 reports · 3.5% of its reports
Hypotension after Ampicillin 23 reports · 7.6% of its reports

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