Hiding after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

60 reports to the FDA describe hiding in cats given Dexmedetomidine. That is 2.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.4% across reports for all cat medicines.

60Reports

40%Marked serious

22%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

32 58%

1–2 days

15 27%

3–7 days

2 3.6%

1–4 weeks

5 9.1%

Over a month

1 1.8%

How the animals did

Recovered

12 20%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.7%

Still unwell when reported

31 52%

Died

5 8.3%

Euthanised

3 5.0%

Not known

8 13%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

46 77%

Lethargy

17 28%

Behaviour change

17 28%

Restlessness or agitation

11 18%

9 15%

9 15%

8 13%

8 13%

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 hiding in cats?: 60 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).

Hiding with similar medicines

Hiding after Buprenorphine 337 reports · 6.0% of its reports

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