Restlessness or agitation after Selamectin (Revolution) in cats

The FDA has received 416 reports of restlessness or agitation in cats after Selamectin. That is 1.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

416Reports
7.9%Marked serious
13%Recovered
4.1%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
SponsoredWorried about your pet? Ask a veterinarian online, 24/7

How soon it started

Same day
100 60%
1–2 days
21 13%
3–7 days
13 7.8%
1–4 weeks
19 11%
Over a month
13 7.8%

How the animals did

Recovered
52 13%
Still unwell when reported
54 13%
Died
15 3.6%
Euthanised
2 0.5%
Not known
293 70%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
80
1–3 years
139
4–7 years
76
8–11 years
53
12+ years
30

About this medicine

Selamectin prevents heartworm and treats fleas, ear mites and some worms (spot-on).

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

Some herding breeds (for example Collies) carry the MDR1 gene variant and can be more sensitive to this drug class at high doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Selamectin cause restlessness or agitation in cats?
416 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

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