Disorientation after Insulin in cats

The FDA has received 67 reports of disorientation in cats after Insulin. That is 1.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.0% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

67Reports

36%Marked serious

9.0%Recovered

12%Died or euthanised

21 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

6 25%

1–2 days

1 4.2%

3–7 days

3 13%

1–4 weeks

4 17%

Over a month

10 42%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 9.0%

Still unwell when reported

13 19%

Died

2 3.0%

Euthanised

6 9.0%

Not known

40 60%

Problems reported at the same time

Hypoglycaemia

27 40%

Didn't work as expected

15 22%

15 22%

14 21%

13 19%

12 18%

9 13%

8 12%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Insulin treats diabetes.

Questions owners ask

Can Insulin cause disorientation in cats?: 67 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 21 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).

Disorientation with similar medicines

Disorientation after Methimazole 23 reports · 1.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Insulin in cats · Medicines most reported with disorientation