Death after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

482 reports to the FDA describe death in cats given Dexmedetomidine. That is 18% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

482Reports

77%Marked serious

0.2%Recovered

100%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

258 72%

1–2 days

48 13%

3–7 days

26 7.3%

1–4 weeks

15 4.2%

Over a month

11 3.1%

How the animals did

Recovered

1 0.2%

Died

399 83%

Euthanised

82 17%

Problems reported at the same time

137 28%

66 14%

59 12%

59 12%

53 11%

47 9.8%

45 9.3%

44 9.1%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

157

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 death in cats?: 482 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Buprenorphine 734 reports · 13% of its reports

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