Behaviour change after Selamectin (Revolution) in dogs

The FDA has received 652 reports of behaviour change in dogs after Selamectin. That is 2.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.5% across reports for all dog medicines.

652Reports

12%Marked serious

20%Recovered

5.2%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

228 65%

1–2 days

52 15%

3–7 days

21 6.0%

1–4 weeks

20 5.7%

Over a month

31 8.8%

How the animals did

Recovered

125 19%

Recovered with lasting effects

4 0.6%

Still unwell when reported

102 16%

Died

25 3.8%

Euthanised

9 1.4%

Not known

387 59%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

164 25%

Restlessness or agitation

112 17%

108 17%

89 14%

89 14%

88 13%

58 8.9%

53 8.1%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

218

4–7 years

146

8–11 years

116

12+ years

About this medicine

Selamectin prevents heartworm and treats fleas, ear mites and some worms (spot-on).

Products with this ingredient include Revolution. 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 Selamectin cause behaviour change in dogs?: 652 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).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

Behaviour change after Ivermectin + Pyrantel (Heartgard Plus) 1,674 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Behaviour change after Milbemycin Oxime + Spinosad (Trifexis) 4,099 reports · 3.2% of its reports
Behaviour change after Moxidectin (ProHeart 6) 688 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Behaviour change after Milbemycin Oxime + Praziquantel (Interceptor Plus) 852 reports · 2.7% of its reports
Behaviour change after Milbemycin Oxime (Interceptor) 364 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Behaviour change after Ivermectin (Heartgard) 368 reports · 3.1% of its reports
Behaviour change after Ivermectin + Praziquantel + Pyrantel (Iverhart Max) 146 reports · 1.7% of its reports
Behaviour change after Moxidectin + Pyrantel + Sarolaner (Simparica Trio) 55 reports · 4.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Selamectin in dogs · Medicines most reported with behaviour change