Dehydration after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in cats

The FDA has received 99 reports of dehydration in cats after Mirtazapine. That is 5.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.0% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

99Reports

86%Marked serious

13%Recovered

45%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

18 21%

1–2 days

23 26%

3–7 days

15 17%

1–4 weeks

15 17%

Over a month

16 18%

How the animals did

Recovered

13 13%

Still unwell when reported

29 29%

Died

13 13%

Euthanised

32 32%

Not known

12 12%

Problems reported at the same time

72 73%

57 58%

44 44%

33 33%

33 33%

31 31%

30 30%

29 29%

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 dehydration in cats?: 99 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).

Dehydration with similar medicines

Dehydration after Maropitant (Cerenia) 292 reports · 7.6% of its reports
Dehydration after Capromorelin (Entyce) 35 reports · 4.3% of its reports

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