Pimobendan (Vetmedin) side effects in cats

146 reports sent to the FDA between 2007 and 2026 involve Pimobendan in cats. The most reported problems were vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy. 46% were marked serious, and where it was recorded, signs eased after stopping the medicine in 83% of cases.

146Reports
46%Marked serious
52%Only medicine involved
15%Recovered
23%Died or euthanised
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About this medicine

Pimobendan treats heart failure and some heart disease.

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

Most reported side effects

35 24%
22 15%
Kidney problems
16 11%
Accidental exposure
14 9.6%
Weight loss
11 7.5%
Tachycardia
10 6.8%
Pleural effusion
10 6.8%
Restlessness or agitation
8 5.5%
Diarrhea
7 4.8%
Weakness
7 4.8%
Itching
6 4.1%
Abnormal ultrasound finding
4 2.7%
Behaviour change
4 2.7%

Share = percentage of this medicine's reports that mention the problem. One report can list several problems.

Reports that it didn't work

Some reports are about the medicine not working (for example a cat still getting fleas or heartworm), not about a side effect.

Didn't work as expected
9 6.2%

How soon problems started

Same day
31 33%
1–2 days
11 12%
3–7 days
9 9.6%
1–4 weeks
9 9.6%
Over a month
34 36%

Time from the first dose to the first sign, where both dates were reported (94 reports).

How the animals did

Recovered
21 14%
Recovered with lasting effects
1 0.7%
Still unwell when reported
28 19%
Died
19 13%
Euthanised
15 10%
Not known
62 42%

Breeds named most often

Popular breeds appear more often because there are more of them.