Breathing problems after Isoflurane in cats

The FDA has received 161 reports of breathing problems in cats after Isoflurane. That is 7.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

161Reports
68%Marked serious
26%Recovered
32%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
94 72%
1–2 days
20 15%
3–7 days
5 3.8%
1–4 weeks
4 3.1%
Over a month
7 5.4%

How the animals did

Recovered
42 26%
Still unwell when reported
50 31%
Died
42 26%
Euthanised
9 5.6%
Not known
18 11%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
47
1–3 years
32
4–7 years
30
8–11 years
18
12+ years
28

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Isoflurane cause breathing problems in cats?
161 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 the same 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Isoflurane in cats · Medicines most reported with breathing problems