Hair loss after Cyclosporine (Atopica) in cats

The FDA has received 90 reports of hair loss in cats after Cyclosporine. That is 3.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 14% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

90Reports

32%Marked serious

4.4%Recovered

2.2%Died or euthanised

30 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 22%

1–2 days

10 16%

3–7 days

2 3.1%

1–4 weeks

8 13%

Over a month

30 47%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 4.4%

Still unwell when reported

44 49%

Died

1 1.1%

Euthanised

1 1.1%

Not known

40 44%

Problems reported at the same time

Itching

29 32%

Didn't work as expected

14 16%

Application site reaction

14 16%

Skin scab

12 13%

Weight loss

11 12%

Skin rash or irritation

10 11%

Loss of appetite

10 11%

Vomiting

9 10%

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 hair loss in cats?: 90 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 30 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).

Hair loss with similar medicines

Hair loss after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) 23 reports · 5.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Cyclosporine in cats · Medicines most reported with hair loss