Kidney problems after Melarsomine (Immiticide) in dogs

The FDA has received 434 reports of kidney problems in dogs after Melarsomine. That is 1.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

434Reports

44%Marked serious

3.9%Recovered

22%Died or euthanised

15 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

23 11%

1–2 days

17 8.1%

3–7 days

38 18%

1–4 weeks

59 28%

Over a month

74 35%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 3.2%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 0.7%

Still unwell when reported

99 23%

Died

72 17%

Euthanised

25 5.8%

Not known

221 51%

Problems reported at the same time

244 56%

175 40%

165 38%

159 37%

108 25%

106 24%

98 23%

95 22%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

148

4–7 years

153

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Melarsomine treats adult heartworm infection (a series of injections given by a vet).

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

Questions owners ask

Can Melarsomine cause kidney problems in dogs?: 434 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 15 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan 319 reports · 5.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Diphenhydramine 221 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Kidney problems after Butorphanol 203 reports · 4.6% of its reports
Kidney problems after Cefpodoxime 248 reports · 6.1% of its reports
Kidney problems after Tramadol 441 reports · 12% of its reports
Kidney problems after Florfenicol + Mometasone + Terbinafine 52 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Kidney problems after Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate 253 reports · 7.6% of its reports
Kidney problems after Propofol 143 reports · 4.7% of its reports
Kidney problems after Dirlotapide 78 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Isoflurane 187 reports · 6.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Melarsomine in dogs · Medicines most reported with kidney problems