Death after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in cats

383 reports to the FDA describe death in cats given Mirtazapine. That is 20% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

383Reports

98%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

100%Died or euthanised

4 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

64 20%

1–2 days

77 24%

3–7 days

49 15%

1–4 weeks

60 19%

Over a month

71 22%

How the animals did

Died

146 38%

Euthanised

237 62%

Problems reported at the same time

164 43%

103 27%

63 16%

63 16%

62 16%

59 15%

Didn't work as expected

56 15%

Breathing problems

49 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

201

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 death in cats?: 383 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 4 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Maropitant (Cerenia) 812 reports · 21% of its reports
Death after Capromorelin (Entyce) 128 reports · 16% of its reports

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