Wobbliness (ataxia) after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in cats

The FDA has received 117 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in cats after Mirtazapine. That is 6.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines.

117Reports

75%Marked serious

14%Recovered

38%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

25 24%

1–2 days

28 27%

3–7 days

13 13%

1–4 weeks

19 18%

Over a month

18 17%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 13%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.9%

Still unwell when reported

23 20%

Died

17 15%

Euthanised

28 24%

Not known

33 28%

Problems reported at the same time

56 48%

44 38%

38 32%

19 16%

19 16%

18 15%

17 15%

17 15%

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 wobbliness (ataxia) in cats?: 117 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).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Maropitant (Cerenia) 320 reports · 8.3% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Capromorelin (Entyce) 32 reports · 3.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Mirtazapine in cats · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)