Restlessness or agitation after Gabapentin in cats

The FDA has received 106 reports of restlessness or agitation in cats after Gabapentin. That is 5.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.9% across reports for all cat medicines.

106Reports

37%Marked serious

24%Recovered

10%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

37 37%

1–2 days

24 24%

3–7 days

13 13%

1–4 weeks

14 14%

Over a month

12 12%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 23%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.9%

Still unwell when reported

41 39%

Died

5 4.7%

Euthanised

6 5.7%

Not known

29 27%

Problems reported at the same time

46 43%

30 28%

21 20%

14 13%

13 12%

13 12%

12 11%

12 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 restlessness or agitation in cats?: 106 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 1 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 restlessness or agitation