Hyperglycaemia after Dexamethasone in cats

71 reports to the FDA describe hyperglycaemia in cats given Dexamethasone. That is 9.3% 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.

71Reports

77%Marked serious

9.9%Recovered

28%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

26 43%

1–2 days

10 17%

3–7 days

5 8.3%

1–4 weeks

14 23%

Over a month

5 8.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 8.5%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.4%

Still unwell when reported

32 45%

Died

6 8.5%

Euthanised

14 20%

Not known

12 17%

Problems reported at the same time

35 49%

32 45%

25 35%

25 35%

20 28%

19 27%

18 25%

17 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 hyperglycaemia in cats?: 71 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).

Hyperglycaemia with similar medicines

Hyperglycaemia after Prednisolone 69 reports · 5.6% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Prednisone 29 reports · 3.3% of its reports
Hyperglycaemia after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 40 reports · 5.0% of its reports

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