Elevated cholesterol (total) after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) in dogs

The FDA has received 31 reports of elevated cholesterol (total) in dogs after Milbemycin Oxime. That is 0.1% 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.

31Reports

42%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

19%Died or euthanised

45 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

3 27%

1–2 days

1 9.1%

3–7 days

1 9.1%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

6 55%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported

10 32%

Died

3 9.7%

Euthanised

3 9.7%

Not known

15 48%

Problems reported at the same time

19 61%

15 48%

11 35%

11 35%

8 26%

8 26%

6 19%

6 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).

Products with this ingredient include Interceptor. 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 cause elevated cholesterol (total) in dogs?: 31 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 45 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 + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 53 reports · 0.2% 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 in dogs · Medicines most reported with elevated cholesterol (total)