Cardiac arrest after Gabapentin in cats

The FDA has received 21 reports of cardiac arrest in cats after Gabapentin. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.8% across reports for all cat medicines.

21Reports

100%Marked serious

4.8%Recovered

95%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

12 63%

1–2 days

5 26%

3–7 days

1 5.3%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

1 5.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

1 4.8%

Died

18 86%

Euthanised

2 9.5%

Problems reported at the same time

Death

19 90%

Fever

6 29%

Respiratory arrest

4 19%

Cyanosis

3 14%

Apnoea

3 14%

Allergic reaction

3 14%

Bradycardia

3 14%

Respiratory distress

3 14%

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 cardiac arrest in cats?: 21 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).

All reported side effects of Gabapentin in cats · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest