Hair loss after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in cats

The FDA has received 75 reports of hair loss in cats after Mirtazapine. That is 4.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 14% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

75Reports

40%Marked serious

27%Recovered

15%Died or euthanised

14 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

8 12%

1–2 days

6 9.1%

3–7 days

12 18%

1–4 weeks

18 27%

Over a month

22 33%

How the animals did

Recovered

19 25%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.3%

Still unwell when reported

17 23%

Died

2 2.7%

Euthanised

9 12%

Not known

27 36%

Problems reported at the same time

Application site reaction

32 43%

15 20%

14 19%

11 15%

9 12%

8 11%

7 9.3%

Skin scab

7 9.3%

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 hair loss in cats?: 75 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 14 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).

Hair loss with similar medicines

Hair loss after Maropitant (Cerenia) 144 reports · 3.7% of its reports

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