Seizures after Selamectin (Revolution) in cats

The FDA has received 551 reports of seizures in cats after Selamectin. That is 2.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.6% across reports for all cat medicines.

551Reports
42%Marked serious
13%Recovered
28%Died or euthanised
1 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
118 45%
1–2 days
70 27%
3–7 days
26 9.9%
1–4 weeks
25 9.5%
Over a month
24 9.1%

How the animals did

Recovered
69 13%
Still unwell when reported
98 18%
Died
120 22%
Euthanised
33 6.0%
Not known
231 42%

Problems reported at the same time

153 28%
89 16%
84 15%
57 10%
45 8.2%
42 7.6%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
193
1–3 years
100
4–7 years
88
8–11 years
53
12+ years
76

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 seizures in cats?
551 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 1 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).

Seizures with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Selamectin in cats · Medicines most reported with seizures