Wobbliness (ataxia) after Maropitant (Cerenia) in cats

The FDA has received 320 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in cats after Maropitant. That is 8.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

320Reports

68%Marked serious

19%Recovered

26%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

122 43%

1–2 days

80 28%

3–7 days

31 11%

1–4 weeks

33 12%

Over a month

17 6.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

59 18%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.3%

Still unwell when reported

102 32%

Died

32 10%

Euthanised

51 16%

Not known

75 23%

Problems reported at the same time

141 44%

115 36%

82 26%

58 18%

48 15%

45 14%

45 14%

42 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

115

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 wobbliness (ataxia) in cats?: 320 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) 117 reports · 6.2% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Capromorelin (Entyce) 32 reports · 3.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Maropitant in cats · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)