Apnoea after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

77 reports to the FDA describe apnoea in cats given Dexmedetomidine. That is 2.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

77Reports

49%Marked serious

18%Recovered

58%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

40 100%

1–2 days

0 0.0%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 18%

Still unwell when reported

3 3.9%

Died

44 57%

Euthanised

1 1.3%

Not known

15 19%

Problems reported at the same time

45 58%

27 35%

16 21%

10 13%

9 12%

Labelled drug-drug interaction medication error

6 7.8%

Eye or vision problems

5 6.5%

Hypothermia

5 6.5%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Dexmedetomidine sedation and pain relief (also an oral gel for noise anxiety).

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

Questions owners ask

Can Dexmedetomidine cause apnoea in cats?: 77 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).

Apnoea with similar medicines

Apnoea after Buprenorphine 22 reports · 0.4% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexmedetomidine in cats · Medicines most reported with apnoea