Pale mucous membrane after Nitenpyram (Capstar) in cats

The FDA has received 50 reports of pale mucous membrane in cats after Nitenpyram. That is 0.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all cat medicines.

50Reports

56%Marked serious

18%Recovered

28%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

16 57%

1–2 days

7 25%

3–7 days

3 11%

1–4 weeks

1 3.6%

Over a month

1 3.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 18%

Still unwell when reported

5 10%

Died

10 20%

Euthanised

4 8.0%

Not known

22 44%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

23 46%

Breathing problems

18 36%

Restlessness or agitation

16 32%

14 28%

12 24%

10 20%

9 18%

9 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

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 pale mucous membrane in cats?: 50 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).

Pale mucous membrane with similar medicines

Pale mucous membrane after Spinosad (Comfortis) 25 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Pale mucous membrane after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 25 reports · 0.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Nitenpyram in cats · Medicines most reported with pale mucous membrane