Kidney problems after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

The FDA has received 134 reports of kidney problems in cats after Dexmedetomidine. That is 5.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.5% across reports for all cat medicines.

134Reports

66%Marked serious

8.2%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

38 37%

1–2 days

25 24%

3–7 days

20 19%

1–4 weeks

12 12%

Over a month

8 7.8%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 8.2%

Still unwell when reported

39 29%

Died

36 27%

Euthanised

18 13%

Not known

30 22%

Problems reported at the same time

63 47%

57 43%

53 40%

44 33%

34 25%

29 22%

24 18%

22 16%

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 kidney problems in cats?: 134 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 2 days 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Buprenorphine 298 reports · 5.3% of its reports

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