Restlessness or agitation after Nitenpyram (Capstar) in cats

2,987 reports to the FDA describe restlessness or agitation in cats given Nitenpyram. That is 34% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

2,987Reports

6.1%Marked serious

36%Recovered

0.5%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

2,053 90%

1–2 days

39 1.7%

3–7 days

31 1.4%

1–4 weeks

84 3.7%

Over a month

74 3.2%

How the animals did

Recovered

1,084 36%

Still unwell when reported

506 17%

Died

14 0.5%

Euthanised

2 0.1%

Not known

1,381 46%

Problems reported at the same time

1,385 46%

1,005 34%

954 32%

245 8.2%

231 7.7%

Excessive licking and/or grooming

215 7.2%

Lethargy

180 6.0%

Licking

150 5.0%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

462

1–3 years

1,062

4–7 years

670

8–11 years

344

12+ years

284

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 restlessness or agitation in cats?: 2,987 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).

Restlessness or agitation with similar medicines

Restlessness or agitation after Spinosad (Comfortis) 229 reports · 2.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 682 reports · 8.4% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Lufenuron 20 reports · 1.8% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 27 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid + Pyriproxyfen 46 reports · 7.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Fipronil 59 reports · 12% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 33 reports · 9.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid 28 reports · 11% of its reports

All reported side effects of Nitenpyram in cats · Medicines most reported with restlessness or agitation