Elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma) after Maropitant (Cerenia) in cats

The FDA has received 78 reports of elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma) in cats after Maropitant. That is 2.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

78Reports

72%Marked serious

7.7%Recovered

23%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 20%

1–2 days

19 27%

3–7 days

9 13%

1–4 weeks

10 14%

Over a month

18 26%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 7.7%

Still unwell when reported

38 49%

Died

6 7.7%

Euthanised

12 15%

Not known

16 21%

Problems reported at the same time

58 74%

38 49%

31 40%

30 38%

29 37%

25 32%

22 28%

19 24%

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 elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma) in cats?: 78 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 3 days 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).

Elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma) with similar medicines

Elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma) after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) 45 reports · 2.4% of its reports

All reported side effects of Maropitant in cats · Medicines most reported with elevated symmetrical dimethylarginine (sdma)