Skin redness after Gabapentin in cats

The FDA has received 33 reports of skin redness in cats after Gabapentin. That is 1.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.2% across reports for all cat medicines.

33Reports

64%Marked serious

21%Recovered

9.1%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

2 10%

1–2 days

7 35%

3–7 days

4 20%

1–4 weeks

5 25%

Over a month

2 10%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 18%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 3.0%

Still unwell when reported

15 45%

Died

1 3.0%

Euthanised

2 6.1%

Not known

8 24%

Problems reported at the same time

Hair loss

15 45%

Itching

11 33%

Loss of appetite

10 30%

Application site reaction

10 30%

Skin rash or irritation

8 24%

Vomiting

5 15%

Pain

4 12%

Abnormal cytology

4 12%

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 skin redness in cats?: 33 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 skin redness