Death after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in cats

377 reports to the FDA describe death in cats given Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 4.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

377Reports

82%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

99%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

64 28%

1–2 days

70 30%

3–7 days

32 14%

1–4 weeks

35 15%

Over a month

30 13%

How the animals did

Died

263 70%

Euthanised

112 30%

Not known

2 0.5%

Problems reported at the same time

113 30%

96 25%

48 13%

48 13%

44 12%

38 10%

33 8.8%

32 8.5%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

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 death in cats?: 377 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Spinosad (Comfortis) 322 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Death after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 403 reports · 4.6% of its reports
Death after Lufenuron 88 reports · 7.9% of its reports
Death after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 32 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Death after Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen 29 reports · 4.4% of its reports
Death after Fipronil 22 reports · 4.4% of its reports
Death after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 20 reports · 5.4% of its reports

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