Decreased heart rate after Maropitant (Cerenia) in cats

The FDA has received 24 reports of decreased heart rate in cats after Maropitant. That is 0.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

24Reports

54%Marked serious

54%Recovered

8.3%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

19 83%

1–2 days

3 13%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

1 4.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

13 54%

Still unwell when reported

4 17%

Died

2 8.3%

Not known

5 21%

Problems reported at the same time

8 33%

5 21%

5 21%

4 17%

4 17%

4 17%

3 13%

Decreased body temperature

3 13%

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 decreased heart rate in cats?: 24 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).

Decreased heart rate with similar medicines

Decreased heart rate after Capromorelin (Entyce) 30 reports · 3.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Maropitant in cats · Medicines most reported with decreased heart rate