Constipation after Maropitant (Cerenia) in cats

The FDA has received 98 reports of constipation in cats after Maropitant. That is 2.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

98Reports

58%Marked serious

16%Recovered

24%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

25 30%

1–2 days

27 32%

3–7 days

11 13%

1–4 weeks

12 14%

Over a month

9 11%

How the animals did

Recovered

16 16%

Still unwell when reported

37 38%

Died

7 7.1%

Euthanised

17 17%

Not known

21 21%

Problems reported at the same time

61 62%

34 35%

31 32%

24 24%

23 23%

19 19%

17 17%

17 17%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Maropitant prevents vomiting and motion sickness.

Products with this ingredient include Cerenia. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Maropitant cause constipation in cats?: 98 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 1 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).

Constipation with similar medicines

Constipation after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) 31 reports · 1.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Maropitant in cats · Medicines most reported with constipation