Cardiac arrest after Medetomidine in cats

The FDA has received 44 reports of cardiac arrest in cats after Medetomidine. That is 8.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.8% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

44Reports
14%Marked serious
0.0%Recovered
80%Died or euthanised
–Typical onset
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How the animals did

Died
35 80%
Not known
9 20%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
23
1–3 years
9
4–7 years
6
8–11 years
2
12+ years
2

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Medetomidine cause cardiac arrest in cats?
44 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.
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).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Medetomidine in cats · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest