Pinnae disorder after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in cats

The FDA has received 40 reports of pinnae disorder in cats after Mirtazapine. That is 2.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

40Reports

18%Marked serious

40%Recovered

5.0%Died or euthanised

32 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

2 6.1%

1–2 days

3 9.1%

3–7 days

3 9.1%

1–4 weeks

7 21%

Over a month

18 55%

How the animals did

Recovered

16 40%

Still unwell when reported

3 7.5%

Died

1 2.5%

Euthanised

1 2.5%

Not known

19 48%

Problems reported at the same time

Application site reaction

32 80%

7 18%

2 5.0%

2 5.0%

1 2.5%

Digestive tract neoplasm

1 2.5%

Dermal thickening

1 2.5%

Pancreas endocrine disorder

1 2.5%

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 pinnae disorder in cats?: 40 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 32 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).

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