Kidney problems after Dexamethasone in cats

The FDA has received 89 reports of kidney problems in cats after Dexamethasone. That is 12% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.5% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

89Reports

87%Marked serious

6.7%Recovered

54%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

21 27%

1–2 days

16 21%

3–7 days

12 15%

1–4 weeks

17 22%

Over a month

12 15%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 6.7%

Still unwell when reported

31 35%

Died

15 17%

Euthanised

33 37%

Not known

4 4.5%

Problems reported at the same time

49 55%

48 54%

47 53%

35 39%

33 37%

29 33%

25 28%

23 26%

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 kidney problems in cats?: 89 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 3 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).

Kidney problems with similar medicines

Kidney problems after Prednisolone 84 reports · 6.8% of its reports
Kidney problems after Prednisone 48 reports · 5.4% of its reports
Kidney problems after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 34 reports · 4.2% of its reports

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