Cardiac arrest after Propofol in cats

The FDA has received 87 reports of cardiac arrest in cats after Propofol. That is 7.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.8% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

87Reports
48%Marked serious
5.7%Recovered
89%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
32 84%
1–2 days
2 5.3%
3–7 days
1 2.6%
1–4 weeks
2 5.3%
Over a month
1 2.6%

How the animals did

Recovered
5 5.7%
Still unwell when reported
1 1.1%
Died
76 87%
Euthanised
1 1.1%
Not known
4 4.6%

Problems reported at the same time

75 86%
25 29%
16 18%
Respiratory arrest
8 9.2%
8 9.2%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
20
1–3 years
10
4–7 years
15
8–11 years
20
12+ years
16

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Propofol cause cardiac arrest in cats?
87 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).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Propofol in cats · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest