Kidney problems after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in cats

The FDA has received 174 reports of kidney problems in cats after Mirtazapine. That is 9.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

174Reports

79%Marked serious

3.4%Recovered

37%Died or euthanised

7 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

27 18%

1–2 days

25 16%

3–7 days

26 17%

1–4 weeks

33 22%

Over a month

41 27%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 3.4%

Still unwell when reported

71 41%

Died

19 11%

Euthanised

45 26%

Not known

33 19%

Problems reported at the same time

105 60%

69 40%

63 36%

54 31%

48 28%

48 28%

41 24%

37 21%

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 kidney problems in cats?: 174 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 7 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Maropitant (Cerenia) 457 reports · 12% of its reports
Kidney problems after Capromorelin (Entyce) 53 reports · 6.5% of its reports

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