Not sleeping after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

64 reports to the FDA describe not sleeping in cats given Dexmedetomidine. That is 2.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

64Reports

14%Marked serious

42%Recovered

1.6%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

42 66%

1–2 days

19 30%

3–7 days

1 1.6%

1–4 weeks

1 1.6%

Over a month

1 1.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

27 42%

Still unwell when reported

26 41%

Died

1 1.6%

Not known

10 16%

Problems reported at the same time

Behaviour change

41 64%

Restlessness or agitation

39 61%

19 30%

18 28%

9 14%

8 13%

8 13%

7 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 not sleeping in cats?: 64 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).

Not sleeping with similar medicines

Not sleeping after Buprenorphine 372 reports · 6.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexmedetomidine in cats · Medicines most reported with not sleeping