Behaviour change after Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen in dogs

The FDA has received 70 reports of behaviour change in dogs after Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen. That is 9.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

70Reports

41%Marked serious

37%Recovered

0.0%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 29%

1–2 days

6 12%

3–7 days

3 6.1%

1–4 weeks

10 20%

Over a month

16 33%

How the animals did

Recovered

26 37%

Still unwell when reported

19 27%

Not known

25 36%

Problems reported at the same time

Itching

36 51%

Lethargy

21 30%

Restlessness or agitation

18 26%

Loss of appetite

15 21%

Vomiting

15 21%

Application site reaction

13 19%

Vocalising

12 17%

Didn't stop fleas

9 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Imidacloprid kills fleas (spot-on or collar).

Questions owners ask

Can Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen cause behaviour change in dogs?: 70 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 10 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).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

Behaviour change after Spinosad (Comfortis) 1,176 reports · 2.1% of its reports
Behaviour change after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 358 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Behaviour change after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 1,205 reports · 9.2% of its reports
Behaviour change after Nitenpyram (Capstar) 323 reports · 3.0% of its reports
Behaviour change after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 128 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Behaviour change after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 181 reports · 6.1% of its reports
Behaviour change after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 167 reports · 7.3% of its reports
Behaviour change after Imidacloprid 94 reports · 4.9% of its reports
Behaviour change after Fipronil 66 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Behaviour change after Lufenuron 20 reports · 2.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen in dogs · Medicines most reported with behaviour change