Medication error after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in cats

The FDA has received 47 reports of medication error in cats after Mirtazapine. That is 2.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

47Reports

53%Marked serious

30%Recovered

17%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

19 42%

1–2 days

5 11%

3–7 days

5 11%

1–4 weeks

5 11%

Over a month

11 24%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 30%

Still unwell when reported

8 17%

Died

1 2.1%

Euthanised

7 15%

Not known

17 36%

Problems reported at the same time

11 23%

8 17%

8 17%

7 15%

5 11%

Application site reaction

5 11%

Blood problems

4 8.5%

Lethargy

4 8.5%

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 medication error in cats?: 47 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 2 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).

Medication error with similar medicines

Medication error after Maropitant (Cerenia) 79 reports · 2.1% of its reports

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