Blood problems after Dexamethasone in cats

87 reports to the FDA describe blood problems in cats given Dexamethasone. That is 11% 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.

87Reports

84%Marked serious

8.0%Recovered

48%Died or euthanised

5 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

21 26%

1–2 days

9 11%

3–7 days

17 21%

1–4 weeks

24 30%

Over a month

9 11%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 8.0%

Still unwell when reported

36 41%

Died

17 20%

Euthanised

25 29%

Not known

2 2.3%

Problems reported at the same time

54 62%

53 61%

42 48%

33 38%

31 36%

30 34%

22 25%

21 24%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Dexamethasone reduces inflammation and immune activity.

Steroids commonly cause increased thirst, urination and appetite, especially at higher doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Dexamethasone cause blood problems in cats?: 87 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 5 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 Prednisolone 98 reports · 7.9% of its reports
Blood problems after Prednisone 64 reports · 7.2% of its reports
Blood problems after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 25 reports · 3.1% of its reports

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