Liver problems after Melarsomine (Immiticide) in dogs

The FDA has received 1,315 reports of liver problems in dogs after Melarsomine. That is 5.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.6% across reports for all dog medicines.

1,315Reports

46%Marked serious

7.0%Recovered

11%Died or euthanised

11 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

75 10%

1–2 days

68 9.3%

3–7 days

166 23%

1–4 weeks

189 26%

Over a month

234 32%

How the animals did

Recovered

86 6.5%

Recovered with lasting effects

6 0.5%

Still unwell when reported

347 26%

Died

101 7.7%

Euthanised

43 3.3%

Not known

732 56%

Problems reported at the same time

556 42%

439 33%

434 33%

339 26%

244 19%

207 16%

185 14%

157 12%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

569

4–7 years

491

8–11 years

188

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 liver problems in dogs?: 1,315 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 11 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).

Liver problems with similar medicines

Liver problems after Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan 548 reports · 10% of its reports
Liver problems after Diphenhydramine 500 reports · 11% of its reports
Liver problems after Butorphanol 371 reports · 8.4% of its reports
Liver problems after Cefpodoxime 475 reports · 12% of its reports
Liver problems after Tramadol 684 reports · 18% of its reports
Liver problems after Florfenicol + Mometasone + Terbinafine 133 reports · 3.8% of its reports
Liver problems after Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate 276 reports · 8.3% of its reports
Liver problems after Propofol 201 reports · 6.5% of its reports
Liver problems after Dirlotapide 284 reports · 10% of its reports
Liver problems after Isoflurane 237 reports · 8.6% of its reports

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