Respiratory distress after Dexamethasone in cats

The FDA has received 28 reports of respiratory distress in cats after Dexamethasone. That is 3.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

28Reports

100%Marked serious

11%Recovered

71%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

14 52%

1–2 days

8 30%

3–7 days

3 11%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

2 7.4%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 11%

Still unwell when reported

4 14%

Died

8 29%

Euthanised

12 43%

Not known

1 3.6%

Problems reported at the same time

20 71%

10 36%

8 29%

8 29%

8 29%

5 18%

5 18%

5 18%

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 respiratory distress in cats?: 28 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).

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