Intentional misuse after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

The FDA has received 57 reports of intentional misuse in cats after Dexmedetomidine. That is 2.2% 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.

57Reports

84%Marked serious

26%Recovered

30%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

50 88%

1–2 days

2 3.5%

3–7 days

2 3.5%

1–4 weeks

3 5.3%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 26%

Still unwell when reported

22 39%

Died

13 23%

Euthanised

4 7.0%

Not known

3 5.3%

Problems reported at the same time

17 30%

15 26%

14 25%

10 18%

10 18%

8 14%

7 12%

Didn't work as expected

6 11%

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 intentional misuse in cats?: 57 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).

Intentional misuse with similar medicines

Intentional misuse after Buprenorphine 67 reports · 1.2% of its reports

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