Elevated cholesterol (total) after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) in dogs

53 reports to the FDA describe elevated cholesterol (total) in dogs given Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel. That is 0.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

53Reports

60%Marked serious

9.4%Recovered

19%Died or euthanised

33 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 12%

1–2 days

2 6.1%

3–7 days

3 9.1%

1–4 weeks

7 21%

Over a month

17 52%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 9.4%

Still unwell when reported

21 40%

Died

4 7.5%

Euthanised

6 11%

Not known

17 32%

Problems reported at the same time

32 60%

22 42%

17 32%

14 26%

14 26%

Didn't work as expected

12 23%

Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (ggt)

10 19%

Weight loss

10 19%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Milbemycin Oxime prevents heartworm and controls some intestinal worms (monthly). Praziquantel treats tapeworms.

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

Some herding breeds (for example Collies) carry the MDR1 gene variant and can be more sensitive to this drug class at high doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel cause elevated cholesterol (total) in dogs?: 53 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 33 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).

Elevated cholesterol (total) with similar medicines

Elevated cholesterol (total) after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 96 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 81 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 87 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 31 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Selamectin (Revolution) 36 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 24 reports · 0.2% of its reports

All reported side effects of Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel in dogs · Medicines most reported with elevated cholesterol (total)