Itching after Nitenpyram (Capstar) in cats

1,904 reports to the FDA describe itching in cats given Nitenpyram. That is 22% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 8.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

1,904Reports

6.0%Marked serious

31%Recovered

0.7%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

1,249 82%

1–2 days

64 4.2%

3–7 days

47 3.1%

1–4 weeks

90 5.9%

Over a month

78 5.1%

How the animals did

Recovered

598 31%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.1%

Still unwell when reported

333 17%

Died

12 0.6%

Euthanised

2 0.1%

Not known

958 50%

Problems reported at the same time

Restlessness or agitation

1,005 53%

562 30%

450 24%

187 9.8%

142 7.5%

Excessive licking and/or grooming

113 5.9%

Licking

102 5.4%

Lethargy

98 5.1%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

371

1–3 years

626

4–7 years

369

8–11 years

214

12+ years

186

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 itching in cats?: 1,904 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).

Itching with similar medicines

Itching after Spinosad (Comfortis) 439 reports · 3.8% of its reports
Itching after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 1,531 reports · 19% of its reports
Itching after Lufenuron 84 reports · 7.6% of its reports
Itching after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 210 reports · 31% of its reports
Itching after Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen 222 reports · 34% of its reports
Itching after Fipronil 63 reports · 13% of its reports
Itching after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 68 reports · 19% of its reports
Itching after Imidacloprid 42 reports · 17% of its reports

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