Not drinking after Dexamethasone in cats

25 reports to the FDA describe not drinking in cats given Dexamethasone. That is 3.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

25Reports

76%Marked serious

8.0%Recovered

68%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 59%

1–2 days

3 14%

3–7 days

1 4.5%

1–4 weeks

3 14%

Over a month

2 9.1%

How the animals did

Recovered

2 8.0%

Still unwell when reported

4 16%

Died

5 20%

Euthanised

12 48%

Not known

2 8.0%

Problems reported at the same time

21 84%

17 68%

15 60%

10 40%

10 40%

9 36%

9 36%

8 32%

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 not drinking in cats?: 25 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).

Not drinking with similar medicines

Not drinking after Prednisolone 22 reports · 1.8% of its reports
Not drinking after Prednisone 25 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Not drinking after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 22 reports · 2.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexamethasone in cats · Medicines most reported with not drinking