Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ketoconazole in cats

The FDA has received 29 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in cats after Ketoconazole. That is 32% 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.

29Reports

83%Marked serious

14%Recovered

3.4%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

15 60%

1–2 days

7 28%

3–7 days

1 4.0%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

2 8.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 10%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 3.4%

Still unwell when reported

3 10%

Euthanised

1 3.4%

Not known

21 72%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

20 69%

Anisocoria

9 31%

Head tilt - ear disorder

8 28%

Itching

7 24%

Horner's syndrome

7 24%

Third eyelid protrusion

7 24%

Hiding

5 17%

Didn't work as expected

4 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Ketoconazole cause wobbliness (ataxia) in cats?: 29 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Ketamine 214 reports · 6.6% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Butorphanol 152 reports · 6.8% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Isoflurane 132 reports · 6.5% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Tiletamine + Zolazepam 204 reports · 12% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Methylprednisolone 106 reports · 6.6% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Propofol 59 reports · 5.0% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Atipamezole 63 reports · 6.1% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Midazolam 58 reports · 7.8% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Florfenicol + Mometasone + Terbinafine 306 reports · 44% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Orbifloxacin 59 reports · 8.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ketoconazole in cats · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)