Behaviour change after Nitenpyram (Capstar) in cats

564 reports to the FDA describe behaviour change in cats given Nitenpyram. That is 6.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.4% across reports for all cat medicines.

564Reports

17%Marked serious

29%Recovered

5.3%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

284 70%

1–2 days

57 14%

3–7 days

12 2.9%

1–4 weeks

32 7.8%

Over a month

23 5.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

162 29%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.2%

Still unwell when reported

83 15%

Died

20 3.5%

Euthanised

10 1.8%

Not known

288 51%

Problems reported at the same time

Restlessness or agitation

231 41%

142 25%

139 25%

126 22%

94 17%

73 13%

43 7.6%

40 7.1%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

186

4–7 years

113

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Nitenpyram kills adult fleas quickly; a single-dose tablet.

Products with this ingredient include Capstar. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Nitenpyram cause behaviour change in cats?: 564 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 the same day 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).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

Behaviour change after Spinosad (Comfortis) 359 reports · 3.1% of its reports
Behaviour change after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 1,057 reports · 13% of its reports
Behaviour change after Lufenuron 24 reports · 2.2% of its reports
Behaviour change after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 68 reports · 10% of its reports
Behaviour change after Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen 80 reports · 12% of its reports
Behaviour change after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 23 reports · 6.3% of its reports
Behaviour change after Imidacloprid 26 reports · 10% of its reports

All reported side effects of Nitenpyram in cats · Medicines most reported with behaviour change