Cardiac arrest after Atropine in cats

34 reports to the FDA describe cardiac arrest in cats given Atropine. That is 14% 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.

34Reports
100%Marked serious
2.9%Recovered
71%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
23 72%
1–2 days
6 19%
3–7 days
0 0.0%
1–4 weeks
2 6.3%
Over a month
1 3.1%

How the animals did

Recovered
1 2.9%
Still unwell when reported
8 24%
Died
23 68%
Euthanised
1 2.9%
Not known
1 2.9%

Problems reported at the same time

24 71%
Respiratory arrest
12 35%
Cyanosis
6 18%
Eye or vision problems
6 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
15
1–3 years
2
4–7 years
7
8–11 years
2
12+ years
6

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Atropine cause cardiac arrest in cats?
34 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 Atropine in cats · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest