Elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma) after Gabapentin in cats

The FDA has received 60 reports of elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma) in cats after Gabapentin. That is 3.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

60Reports

78%Marked serious

10%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

15 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

7 15%

1–2 days

7 15%

3–7 days

3 6.5%

1–4 weeks

15 33%

Over a month

14 30%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 8.3%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.7%

Still unwell when reported

32 53%

Died

3 5.0%

Euthanised

5 8.3%

Not known

14 23%

Problems reported at the same time

42 70%

34 57%

21 35%

17 28%

16 27%

14 23%

Abnormal ultrasound finding

11 18%

Hypokalaemia

11 18%

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 elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma) in cats?: 60 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 15 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 elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma)