Weight loss after Maropitant (Cerenia) in cats

The FDA has received 370 reports of weight loss in cats after Maropitant. That is 9.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

370Reports

67%Marked serious

8.9%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

68 22%

1–2 days

68 22%

3–7 days

51 17%

1–4 weeks

51 17%

Over a month

70 23%

How the animals did

Recovered

33 8.9%

Still unwell when reported

150 41%

Died

26 7.0%

Euthanised

68 18%

Not known

93 25%

Problems reported at the same time

252 68%

160 43%

148 40%

108 29%

94 25%

92 25%

80 22%

60 16%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

152

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 weight loss in cats?: 370 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).

Weight loss with similar medicines

Weight loss after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) 184 reports · 9.8% of its reports
Weight loss after Capromorelin (Entyce) 54 reports · 6.6% of its reports

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