Swelling after Maropitant (Cerenia) in cats

The FDA has received 147 reports of swelling in cats after Maropitant. That is 3.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

147Reports

61%Marked serious

18%Recovered

32%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

58 46%

1–2 days

25 20%

3–7 days

24 19%

1–4 weeks

12 9.4%

Over a month

8 6.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

26 18%

Still unwell when reported

50 34%

Died

26 18%

Euthanised

21 14%

Not known

24 16%

Problems reported at the same time

59 40%

59 40%

51 35%

49 33%

47 32%

25 17%

25 17%

21 14%

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 swelling in cats?: 147 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).

Swelling with similar medicines

Swelling after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) 57 reports · 3.0% of its reports

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