Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen in cats

The FDA has received 46 reports of restlessness or agitation in cats after Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen. That is 7.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.9% across reports for all cat medicines.

46Reports

48%Marked serious

50%Recovered

4.3%Died or euthanised

14 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 41%

1–2 days

2 5.9%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

10 29%

Over a month

8 24%

How the animals did

Recovered

23 50%

Still unwell when reported

5 11%

Died

1 2.2%

Euthanised

1 2.2%

Not known

16 35%

Problems reported at the same time

Itching

14 30%

Behaviour change

13 28%

Breathing problems

11 24%

9 20%

8 17%

8 17%

7 15%

6 13%

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).

Questions owners ask

Can Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen cause restlessness or agitation in cats?: 46 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 14 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).

Restlessness or agitation with similar medicines

Restlessness or agitation after Spinosad (Comfortis) 229 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 2,987 reports · 34% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 682 reports · 8.4% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Lufenuron 20 reports · 1.8% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 27 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Fipronil 59 reports · 12% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 33 reports · 9.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid 28 reports · 11% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen in cats · Medicines most reported with restlessness or agitation