Dilated pupils after Dexamethasone in cats

The FDA has received 33 reports of dilated pupils in cats after Dexamethasone. That is 4.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.4% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

33Reports

79%Marked serious

18%Recovered

42%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

17 55%

1–2 days

8 26%

3–7 days

4 13%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

2 6.5%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 18%

Still unwell when reported

8 24%

Died

10 30%

Euthanised

4 12%

Not known

5 15%

Problems reported at the same time

Death

14 42%

Breathing problems

13 39%

Behaviour change

11 33%

Restlessness or agitation

9 27%

Eye or vision problems

8 24%

Drooling

7 21%

Loss of appetite

7 21%

Lethargy

5 15%

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 dilated pupils in cats?: 33 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).

Dilated pupils with similar medicines

Dilated pupils after Prednisolone 27 reports · 2.2% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexamethasone in cats · Medicines most reported with dilated pupils