Itching after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

92 reports to the FDA describe itching in cats given Dexmedetomidine. That is 3.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

92Reports

40%Marked serious

26%Recovered

7.6%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

46 54%

1–2 days

17 20%

3–7 days

10 12%

1–4 weeks

11 13%

Over a month

1 1.2%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 26%

Still unwell when reported

47 51%

Died

5 5.4%

Euthanised

2 2.2%

Not known

14 15%

Problems reported at the same time

Behaviour change

25 27%

Hair loss

20 22%

Loss of appetite

19 21%

Application site reaction

18 20%

Seizures

14 15%

Drooling

14 15%

Restlessness or agitation

14 15%

Lethargy

12 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 itching in cats?: 92 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).

Itching with similar medicines

Itching after Buprenorphine 302 reports · 5.4% of its reports

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