Vomiting after Dexamethasone in cats

The FDA has received 188 reports of vomiting in cats after Dexamethasone. That is 25% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 18% across reports for all cat medicines.

188Reports

72%Marked serious

34%Recovered

31%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

106 62%

1–2 days

19 11%

3–7 days

16 9.4%

1–4 weeks

16 9.4%

Over a month

13 7.6%

How the animals did

Recovered

63 34%

Still unwell when reported

42 22%

Died

21 11%

Euthanised

37 20%

Not known

25 13%

Problems reported at the same time

87 46%

76 40%

57 30%

48 26%

46 24%

38 20%

30 16%

29 15%

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 vomiting in cats?: 188 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).

Vomiting with similar medicines

Vomiting after Prednisolone 242 reports · 20% of its reports
Vomiting after Prednisone 220 reports · 25% of its reports
Vomiting after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 123 reports · 15% of its reports

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