Swelling after Dexamethasone in cats

The FDA has received 79 reports of swelling in cats after Dexamethasone. That is 10% 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.

79Reports

78%Marked serious

13%Recovered

49%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

39 51%

1–2 days

12 16%

3–7 days

12 16%

1–4 weeks

9 12%

Over a month

4 5.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 13%

Still unwell when reported

24 30%

Died

16 20%

Euthanised

23 29%

Not known

6 7.6%

Problems reported at the same time

39 49%

33 42%

32 41%

28 35%

25 32%

Abnormal radiograph finding

16 20%

Allergic reaction

15 19%

Liver problems

14 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 swelling in cats?: 79 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).

Swelling with similar medicines

Swelling after Prednisolone 39 reports · 3.2% of its reports
Swelling after Prednisone 31 reports · 3.5% of its reports
Swelling after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 26 reports · 3.2% of its reports

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