Death after Mirtazapine (Mirataz) in dogs

The FDA has received 102 reports of death in dogs after Mirtazapine. That is 35% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

102Reports

100%Marked serious

0.0%Recovered

98%Died or euthanised

11 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

15 17%

1–2 days

13 15%

3–7 days

10 12%

1–4 weeks

21 24%

Over a month

27 31%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported

2 2.0%

Died

29 28%

Euthanised

71 70%

Problems reported at the same time

65 64%

43 42%

42 41%

39 38%

37 36%

26 25%

24 24%

22 22%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Mirtazapine stimulates appetite (cats: ointment applied to the ear).

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

Questions owners ask

Can Mirtazapine cause death in dogs?: 102 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).

Death with similar medicines

Death after Maropitant (Cerenia) 2,625 reports · 22% of its reports
Death after Capromorelin (Entyce) 358 reports · 24% of its reports

All reported side effects of Mirtazapine in dogs · Medicines most reported with death