Blood problems after Cyclosporine (Atopica) in cats

The FDA has received 97 reports of blood problems in cats after Cyclosporine. That is 3.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

97Reports

62%Marked serious

7.2%Recovered

36%Died or euthanised

37 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 12%

1–2 days

3 7.0%

3–7 days

1 2.3%

1–4 weeks

12 28%

Over a month

22 51%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 6.2%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.0%

Still unwell when reported

27 28%

Died

16 16%

Euthanised

19 20%

Not known

28 29%

Problems reported at the same time

50 52%

37 38%

35 36%

30 31%

29 30%

26 27%

26 27%

16 16%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Cyclosporine controls allergic skin disease and some immune conditions.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Cyclosporine cause blood problems in cats?: 97 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 37 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).

Blood problems with similar medicines

Blood problems after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) 30 reports · 6.5% of its reports

All reported side effects of Cyclosporine in cats · Medicines most reported with blood problems