Wobbliness (ataxia) after Gabapentin in cats

The FDA has received 133 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in cats after Gabapentin. That is 6.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines.

133Reports

57%Marked serious

21%Recovered

20%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

33 28%

1–2 days

28 24%

3–7 days

16 14%

1–4 weeks

18 15%

Over a month

23 19%

How the animals did

Recovered

27 20%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.8%

Still unwell when reported

58 44%

Died

8 6.0%

Euthanised

18 14%

Not known

21 16%

Problems reported at the same time

39 29%

36 27%

25 19%

23 17%

18 14%

17 13%

14 11%

11 8.3%

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 wobbliness (ataxia) in cats?: 133 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 2 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 wobbliness (ataxia)