Restlessness or agitation after Nitenpyram (Capstar) in dogs

The FDA has received 596 reports of restlessness or agitation in dogs after Nitenpyram. That is 5.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

596Reports

8.9%Marked serious

35%Recovered

2.0%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

309 73%

1–2 days

50 12%

3–7 days

7 1.6%

1–4 weeks

35 8.2%

Over a month

24 5.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

206 35%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.2%

Still unwell when reported

102 17%

Died

10 1.7%

Euthanised

2 0.3%

Not known

275 46%

Problems reported at the same time

236 40%

139 23%

82 14%

64 11%

58 9.7%

56 9.4%

40 6.7%

39 6.5%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

101

1–3 years

178

4–7 years

133

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Nitenpyram kills adult fleas quickly; a single-dose tablet.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Nitenpyram cause restlessness or agitation in dogs?: 596 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 the same day 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).

Restlessness or agitation with similar medicines

Restlessness or agitation after Spinosad (Comfortis) 658 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime (Sentinel) 255 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid + Moxidectin (Advantage Multi) 835 reports · 6.4% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Lufenuron + Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Sentinel Spectrum) 73 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Fipronil + S-methoprene (Frontline Plus) 119 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Flumethrin + Imidacloprid (Seresto) 68 reports · 3.0% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid 44 reports · 2.3% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Fipronil 40 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Imidacloprid + Permethrin + Pyriproxyfen 56 reports · 7.6% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Cyphenothrin + Fipronil + S-methoprene 222 reports · 34% of its reports

All reported side effects of Nitenpyram in dogs · Medicines most reported with restlessness or agitation