Leucopenia after Melarsomine (Immiticide) in dogs

The FDA has received 101 reports of leucopenia in dogs after Melarsomine. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines.

101Reports

58%Marked serious

8.9%Recovered

15%Died or euthanised

21 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 6.3%

1–2 days

2 3.1%

3–7 days

13 20%

1–4 weeks

18 28%

Over a month

27 42%

How the animals did

Recovered

9 8.9%

Still unwell when reported

25 25%

Died

12 12%

Euthanised

3 3.0%

Not known

52 51%

Problems reported at the same time

47 47%

40 40%

39 39%

36 36%

35 35%

32 32%

32 32%

21 21%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

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 leucopenia in dogs?: 101 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 21 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).

Leucopenia with similar medicines

Leucopenia after Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan 34 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Leucopenia after Diphenhydramine 68 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Leucopenia after Butorphanol 39 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Leucopenia after Cefpodoxime 60 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Leucopenia after Tramadol 53 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Leucopenia after Propofol 33 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Leucopenia after Isoflurane 29 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Leucopenia after Cephalexin 27 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Leucopenia after Atipamezole 22 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Leucopenia after Famotidine 75 reports · 2.8% of its reports

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