Restlessness or agitation after Ketamine in cats

The FDA has received 229 reports of restlessness or agitation in cats after Ketamine. That is 7.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.9% across reports for all cat medicines.

229Reports

22%Marked serious

33%Recovered

5.2%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

131 74%

1–2 days

36 20%

3–7 days

6 3.4%

1–4 weeks

3 1.7%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

73 32%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 0.9%

Still unwell when reported

73 32%

Died

9 3.9%

Euthanised

3 1.3%

Not known

69 30%

Problems reported at the same time

70 31%

42 18%

37 16%

33 14%

30 13%

27 12%

21 9.2%

Eye or vision problems

19 8.3%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

119

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Ketamine cause restlessness or agitation in cats?: 229 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).

Restlessness or agitation with similar medicines

Restlessness or agitation after Butorphanol 187 reports · 8.3% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Isoflurane 216 reports · 11% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Tiletamine + Zolazepam 57 reports · 3.4% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Methylprednisolone 45 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Propofol 125 reports · 11% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Atipamezole 94 reports · 9.1% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Midazolam 108 reports · 14% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Acepromazine 42 reports · 7.1% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Alfaxalone 36 reports · 7.6% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Famotidine 20 reports · 4.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ketamine in cats · Medicines most reported with restlessness or agitation