Dehydration after Insulin in cats

The FDA has received 119 reports of dehydration in cats after Insulin. That is 3.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.0% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

119Reports

80%Marked serious

12%Recovered

30%Died or euthanised

5 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

10 15%

1–2 days

11 17%

3–7 days

15 23%

1–4 weeks

10 15%

Over a month

20 30%

How the animals did

Recovered

12 10%

Recovered with lasting effects

2 1.7%

Still unwell when reported

39 33%

Died

13 11%

Euthanised

23 19%

Not known

30 25%

Problems reported at the same time

Loss of appetite

71 60%

Lethargy

59 50%

Kidney problems

41 34%

Didn't work as expected

41 34%

37 31%

36 30%

35 29%

31 26%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Insulin treats diabetes.

Questions owners ask

Can Insulin cause dehydration in cats?: 119 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 5 days 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).

Dehydration with similar medicines

Dehydration after Velagliflozin (Senvelgo) 223 reports · 4.6% of its reports
Dehydration after Bexagliflozin (Bexacat) 243 reports · 6.0% of its reports
Dehydration after Methimazole 85 reports · 4.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Insulin in cats · Medicines most reported with dehydration