Behaviour change after Gabapentin in cats

The FDA has received 201 reports of behaviour change in cats after Gabapentin. That is 10% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.4% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

201Reports

48%Marked serious

17%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

66 36%

1–2 days

29 16%

3–7 days

25 14%

1–4 weeks

30 16%

Over a month

32 18%

How the animals did

Recovered

34 17%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.5%

Still unwell when reported

81 40%

Died

12 6.0%

Euthanised

15 7.5%

Not known

58 29%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

75 37%

Lethargy

49 24%

Restlessness or agitation

46 23%

26 13%

23 11%

23 11%

23 11%

22 11%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Gabapentin used for pain and to reduce stress or anxiety.

Questions owners ask

Can Gabapentin cause behaviour change in cats?: 201 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).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

Behaviour change after Fluoxetine 31 reports · 13% of its reports

All reported side effects of Gabapentin in cats · Medicines most reported with behaviour change