Eye or vision problems after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in cats

The FDA has received 172 reports of eye or vision problems in cats after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 2.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.3% across reports for all cat medicines.

172Reports

67%Marked serious

33%Recovered

7.6%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

49 43%

1–2 days

48 42%

3–7 days

5 4.4%

1–4 weeks

8 7.1%

Over a month

3 2.7%

How the animals did

Recovered

53 31%

Recovered with lasting effects

4 2.3%

Still unwell when reported

7 4.1%

Died

10 5.8%

Euthanised

3 1.7%

Not known

95 55%

Problems reported at the same time

80 47%

51 30%

43 25%

33 19%

31 18%

27 16%

Restlessness or agitation

23 13%

Itching

21 12%

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 eye or vision problems in cats?: 172 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).

Eye or vision problems with similar medicines

Eye or vision problems after Spinosad (Comfortis) 28 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Eye or vision problems after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 93 reports · 1.1% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Moxidectin in cats · Medicines most reported with eye or vision problems