Diarrhea after Gabapentin in cats

The FDA has received 158 reports of diarrhea in cats after Gabapentin. That is 8.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

158Reports

59%Marked serious

15%Recovered

16%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

39 28%

1–2 days

26 19%

3–7 days

18 13%

1–4 weeks

19 14%

Over a month

38 27%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 15%

Still unwell when reported

78 49%

Died

10 6.3%

Euthanised

16 10%

Not known

30 19%

Problems reported at the same time

75 47%

67 42%

54 34%

28 18%

26 16%

22 14%

19 12%

17 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 diarrhea in cats?: 158 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 4 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).

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