Breathing problems after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in cats

97 reports to the FDA describe breathing problems in cats given Mirtazapine. That is 5.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines.

97Reports

85%Marked serious

10%Recovered

51%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

32 40%

1–2 days

17 21%

3–7 days

10 12%

1–4 weeks

11 14%

Over a month

11 14%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 10%

Still unwell when reported

21 22%

Died

23 24%

Euthanised

26 27%

Not known

17 18%

Problems reported at the same time

49 51%

43 44%

39 40%

20 21%

19 20%

18 19%

17 18%

16 16%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Mirtazapine stimulates appetite (cats: ointment applied to the ear).

Products with this ingredient include Mirataz. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Mirtazapine cause breathing problems 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

Breathing problems after Maropitant (Cerenia) 404 reports · 11% of its reports
Breathing problems after Capromorelin (Entyce) 64 reports · 7.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Mirtazapine in cats · Medicines most reported with breathing problems