Breathing problems after Cyclosporine (Atopica) in cats

The FDA has received 76 reports of breathing problems in cats after Cyclosporine. That is 2.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

76Reports

67%Marked serious

30%Recovered

45%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

20 44%

1–2 days

6 13%

3–7 days

4 8.9%

1–4 weeks

3 6.7%

Over a month

12 27%

How the animals did

Recovered

23 30%

Still unwell when reported

8 11%

Died

23 30%

Euthanised

11 14%

Not known

11 14%

Problems reported at the same time

Death

33 43%

Loss of appetite

26 34%

Lethargy

25 33%

Abnormal radiograph finding

18 24%

Weight loss

15 20%

Vomiting

14 18%

Allergic reaction

11 14%

Liver problems

10 13%

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 breathing problems in cats?: 76 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 1 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

Breathing problems after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) 23 reports · 5.0% of its reports

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