Skin rash or irritation after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) in cats

259 reports to the FDA describe skin rash or irritation in cats given Imidacloprid + Moxidectin. That is 3.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.0% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

259Reports

61%Marked serious

25%Recovered

2.3%Died or euthanised

7 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 9.8%

1–2 days

30 21%

3–7 days

28 20%

1–4 weeks

47 33%

Over a month

24 17%

How the animals did

Recovered

66 25%

Still unwell when reported

5 1.9%

Died

3 1.2%

Euthanised

3 1.2%

Not known

182 70%

Problems reported at the same time

Itching

134 52%

Hair loss

125 48%

Application site reaction

94 36%

50 19%

31 12%

26 10%

20 7.7%

18 6.9%

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 skin rash or irritation in cats?: 259 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 7 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).

Skin rash or irritation with similar medicines

Skin rash or irritation after Spinosad (Comfortis) 46 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Skin rash or irritation after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 52 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Skin rash or irritation after Lufenuron 35 reports · 3.2% of its reports
Skin rash or irritation after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 43 reports · 6.4% of its reports
Skin rash or irritation after Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen 31 reports · 4.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Moxidectin in cats · Medicines most reported with skin rash or irritation