Prescribing overview
Mirataz 2% ointment supports weight gain in cats with weight loss.
Key prescribing checks
- Review MAOI exposure, including selegiline and amitraz. The label prohibits combination or use within its specified before/after interval because of serotonin-syndrome risk.
- Use caution with kidney or liver disease; exposure or liver enzymes can be affected. Monitor weight, food intake, behavior, vomiting and application-site irritation.
- Wear disposable gloves for handling and follow the label’s contact precautions for people and other animals. Reduced intake after withdrawal warrants reassessment rather than assuming the disease has resolved.
Uses by species
Approval and evidence apply to the named product, species, route and indication. An extra-label use requires its own prescribing assessment; a human indication is not an animal approval.
Cats
FDA-approved veterinary labelBody-weight gain with history of weight loss
Not evaluated below 2 kg or 6 months.
Use / indication source ↗Pharmacology & pharmacokinetics
Mechanism and clinical role
Blocks alpha2, serotonin and histamine receptors; weight-gain mechanism is multifactorial.
Absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination
Feline transdermal exposure differs from oral exposure; no oral substitution is implied.
SAFETY REFERENCE · PRODUCT & SPECIES SPECIFIC
Contraindications & cautions
Contraindications identify circumstances where the source says a product should not be used. Precautions call for assessment or monitoring. Interactions identify combinations to review. They are distinct categories; this summary does not replace a full interaction check or the current product label.
Mirataz
Cats; transdermal ear ointment
Contraindications · when not to use
- Hypersensitivity to mirtazapine or excipients.
- Concurrent MAOI treatment or use within 14 days before or after an MAOI.
Precautions & monitoring
- Use cautiously with kidney/liver disease. Not for oral or ocular administration; reproductive safety is unevaluated. Wear gloves and follow contact precautions.
Safety sources checked: . Selected label information; independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review remains pending. A label for dogs, cats, horses or humans does not establish safety for another species.
Adverse effects
Ear irritation, vocalization, hyperactivity and vomiting occur.
These are selected source-reported effects, not incidence estimates or an exhaustive list. Spontaneous postmarketing reports do not by themselves establish frequency or causality.
Dosing & administration
| Species & indication | Labeled regimen | Eligibility & source |
|---|---|---|
| CatsBody-weight gain with weight lossMirataz 2% transdermal ointment | 1.5-inch ribbon, approximately 2 mg/cat Topical inner ear pinna · Once daily 14 days | Alternate ears; never into ear canal. Verify full dosing label ↗ |
No MAOI concurrently or within 14 days before/after; includes selegiline and amitraz.
Extra-label prescribing and food-animal residue requirements are separate from labeled regimens. FDA extra-label-use guidance ↗
Drug & supplement interactions
This is a selected interaction reference, not an automated or comprehensive combination checker. Reconcile prescription drugs, nonprescription products, supplements and recent treatment changes.
Mirataz
Cats; transdermal ear ointment
- MAOIs include selegiline and amitraz; combination increases serotonin-syndrome risk.
Monitoring
Monitor weight, intake, behavior and renal/hepatic disease.
Client counseling
Wear gloves; prevent contact with people/animals for 2 hours. Monitor intake after withdrawal.
This section supports the veterinary team's discharge discussion; it does not replace the product’s Client Information Sheet where one is required.
Storage & handling
Follow tube storage directions; avoid oral/ocular exposure.
Brands, formulations & ingredient identity
Active ingredients
Mirtazapine
Mirataz is a specific ointment formulation; an oral tablet or compounded preparation containing mirtazapine is not the same product.
Confirm the route on both the prescription and dispensed container. The Mirataz label prohibits oral or ocular administration.
An ingredient match does not establish equivalent absorption between oral and transdermal products; do not transfer instructions by brand synonym alone.
Shared ingredients do not establish interchangeable concentrations, routes, release properties, species labeling or regional availability.
Mirataz
- Formulation
- Transdermal ointment for the inner ear pinna
- Label / product scope
- Cats
Cat-labeled mirtazapine ointment; not an oral formulation.
Product label / source ↗References & review status
Clinical reference updated October 16, 2026. Independent veterinary or veterinary-pharmacy review not yet completed. Evidence gaps remain explicitly identified; this page does not claim equivalence to a comprehensive, professionally reviewed veterinary formulary.
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