Pale mucous membrane after Maropitant (Cerenia) in cats

The FDA has received 97 reports of pale mucous membrane 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.

97Reports

90%Marked serious

18%Recovered

47%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

33 38%

1–2 days

17 19%

3–7 days

12 14%

1–4 weeks

10 11%

Over a month

16 18%

How the animals did

Recovered

17 18%

Still unwell when reported

23 24%

Died

19 20%

Euthanised

27 28%

Not known

11 11%

Problems reported at the same time

46 47%

46 47%

43 44%

40 41%

32 33%

30 31%

29 30%

28 29%

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 pale mucous membrane in cats?: 97 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).

Pale mucous membrane with similar medicines

Pale mucous membrane after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) 28 reports · 1.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Maropitant in cats · Medicines most reported with pale mucous membrane