Elevated betahydroxybutyrate (bhba) after Bexagliflozin (Bexacat) in cats

The FDA has received 237 reports of elevated betahydroxybutyrate (bhba) in cats after Bexagliflozin. That is 5.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

237Reports

14%Marked serious

3.0%Recovered

3.8%Died or euthanised

11 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

10 5.0%

1–2 days

19 9.4%

3–7 days

65 32%

1–4 weeks

41 20%

Over a month

67 33%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 3.0%

Still unwell when reported

135 57%

Died

2 0.8%

Euthanised

7 3.0%

Not known

86 36%

Problems reported at the same time

77 32%

67 28%

52 22%

41 17%

Elevated fructosamine

40 17%

Diarrhea

36 15%

Kidney problems

31 13%

Didn't work as expected

31 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

106

12+ years

About this medicine

Bexagliflozin treats diabetes in cats (oral, an SGLT2 inhibitor).

Products with this ingredient include Bexacat. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Bexagliflozin cause elevated betahydroxybutyrate (bhba) in cats?: 237 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 11 days 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).

All reported side effects of Bexagliflozin in cats · Medicines most reported with elevated betahydroxybutyrate (bhba)