Swelling after Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor) in cats

The FDA has received 119 reports of swelling in cats after Dexmedetomidine. That is 4.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

119Reports

55%Marked serious

18%Recovered

37%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

58 64%

1–2 days

13 14%

3–7 days

14 15%

1–4 weeks

5 5.5%

Over a month

1 1.1%

How the animals did

Recovered

21 18%

Still unwell when reported

33 28%

Died

36 30%

Euthanised

8 6.7%

Not known

21 18%

Problems reported at the same time

Death

44 37%

Breathing problems

20 17%

Abnormal radiograph finding

20 17%

17 14%

14 12%

13 11%

13 11%

12 10%

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 swelling in cats?: 119 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).

Swelling with similar medicines

Swelling after Buprenorphine 187 reports · 3.3% of its reports

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