Breathing problems after Dexamethasone in cats

The FDA has received 134 reports of breathing problems in cats after Dexamethasone. That is 18% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

134Reports

93%Marked serious

15%Recovered

54%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

77 60%

1–2 days

27 21%

3–7 days

9 7.0%

1–4 weeks

12 9.4%

Over a month

3 2.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

20 15%

Still unwell when reported

31 23%

Died

33 25%

Euthanised

39 29%

Not known

11 8.2%

Problems reported at the same time

72 54%

48 36%

47 35%

41 31%

39 29%

32 24%

Abnormal radiograph finding

26 19%

Liver problems

23 17%

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 breathing problems in cats?: 134 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 the same 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 Prednisolone 70 reports · 5.7% of its reports
Breathing problems after Prednisone 55 reports · 6.2% of its reports
Breathing problems after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 32 reports · 4.0% of its reports

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