Sedation after Maropitant (Cerenia) in dogs

The FDA has received 137 reports of sedation in dogs after Maropitant. That is 1.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

137Reports

41%Marked serious

28%Recovered

14%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

69 64%

1–2 days

15 14%

3–7 days

8 7.4%

1–4 weeks

7 6.5%

Over a month

9 8.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

38 28%

Still unwell when reported

45 33%

Died

7 5.1%

Euthanised

12 8.8%

Not known

35 26%

Problems reported at the same time

49 36%

31 23%

30 22%

21 15%

21 15%

19 14%

15 11%

15 11%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Maropitant prevents vomiting and motion sickness.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Maropitant cause sedation in dogs?: 137 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).

All reported side effects of Maropitant in dogs · Medicines most reported with sedation