Adipsia after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in cats

140 reports to the FDA describe adipsia in cats given Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 1.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

140Reports
69%Marked serious
32%Recovered
17%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
44 44%
1–2 days
37 37%
3–7 days
8 8.1%
1–4 weeks
6 6.1%
Over a month
4 4.0%

How the animals did

Recovered
45 32%
Still unwell when reported
3 2.1%
Died
18 13%
Euthanised
6 4.3%
Not known
68 49%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
22
1–3 years
38
4–7 years
36
8–11 years
20
12+ years
18

About this medicine

Imidacloprid kills fleas (spot-on or collar). Moxidectin prevents heartworm disease (monthly topical, or a 6- or 12-month injection for dogs).

Products with this combination include Advantage Multi. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Imidacloprid + Moxidectin cause adipsia in cats?
140 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).

Adipsia with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Moxidectin in cats · Medicines most reported with adipsia