Loss of appetite after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in cats

The FDA has received 901 reports of loss of appetite in cats after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 11% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 14% across reports for all cat medicines.

901Reports

66%Marked serious

34%Recovered

11%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

256 40%

1–2 days

237 37%

3–7 days

63 10.0%

1–4 weeks

48 7.6%

Over a month

29 4.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

301 33%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 0.3%

Still unwell when reported

43 4.8%

Died

66 7.3%

Euthanised

37 4.1%

Not known

451 50%

Problems reported at the same time

563 62%

245 27%

157 17%

132 15%

113 13%

96 11%

96 11%

94 10%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

142

1–3 years

223

4–7 years

215

8–11 years

152

12+ years

140

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 loss of appetite in cats?: 901 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).

Loss of appetite with similar medicines

Loss of appetite after Spinosad (Comfortis) 632 reports · 5.5% of its reports
Loss of appetite after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 573 reports · 6.6% of its reports
Loss of appetite after Lufenuron 207 reports · 19% of its reports
Loss of appetite after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 58 reports · 8.6% of its reports
Loss of appetite after Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen 54 reports · 8.2% of its reports
Loss of appetite after Fipronil 37 reports · 7.4% of its reports
Loss of appetite after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 29 reports · 7.9% of its reports
Loss of appetite after Imidacloprid 24 reports · 9.5% of its reports

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