Death after Pyrantel in cats

110 reports to the FDA describe death in cats given Pyrantel. That is 20% 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.

110Reports

57%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

99%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

17 28%

1–2 days

22 37%

3–7 days

7 12%

1–4 weeks

10 17%

Over a month

4 6.7%

How the animals did

Died

88 80%

Euthanised

21 19%

Not known

1 0.9%

Problems reported at the same time

38 35%

28 25%

18 16%

16 15%

14 13%

14 13%

13 12%

13 12%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Pyrantel treats roundworms and hookworms.

Questions owners ask

Can Pyrantel cause death in cats?: 110 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 2 days 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Emodepside + Praziquantel (Profender) 270 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Death after Praziquantel 101 reports · 6.1% of its reports
Death after Praziquantel + Pyrantel 81 reports · 6.4% of its reports
Death after Fenbendazole 60 reports · 21% of its reports

All reported side effects of Pyrantel in cats · Medicines most reported with death