Vocalising after Dexamethasone in cats

The FDA has received 51 reports of vocalising in cats after Dexamethasone. That is 6.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 3.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

51Reports

75%Marked serious

27%Recovered

43%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

20 43%

1–2 days

12 26%

3–7 days

4 8.5%

1–4 weeks

6 13%

Over a month

5 11%

How the animals did

Recovered

14 27%

Still unwell when reported

10 20%

Died

13 25%

Euthanised

9 18%

Not known

5 9.8%

Problems reported at the same time

22 43%

20 39%

16 31%

15 29%

14 27%

13 25%

Restlessness or agitation

9 18%

Pain

9 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 vocalising in cats?: 51 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).

Vocalising with similar medicines

Vocalising after Prednisolone 49 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Vocalising after Prednisone 29 reports · 3.3% of its reports
Vocalising after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 27 reports · 3.4% of its reports

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