Breathing problems after Methylprednisolone in cats

The FDA has received 191 reports of breathing problems in cats after Methylprednisolone. That is 12% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

191Reports

59%Marked serious

9.4%Recovered

52%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

39 30%

1–2 days

37 29%

3–7 days

31 24%

1–4 weeks

12 9.4%

Over a month

9 7.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

18 9.4%

Still unwell when reported

44 23%

Died

68 36%

Euthanised

31 16%

Not known

30 16%

Problems reported at the same time

Death

100 52%

Loss of appetite

61 32%

Lethargy

54 28%

Abnormal radiograph finding

53 28%

39 20%

30 16%

29 15%

27 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Methylprednisolone cause breathing problems in cats?: 191 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 2 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

Breathing problems after Ketamine 208 reports · 6.4% of its reports
Breathing problems after Butorphanol 226 reports · 10% of its reports
Breathing problems after Isoflurane 161 reports · 7.9% of its reports
Breathing problems after Tiletamine + Zolazepam 115 reports · 6.9% of its reports
Breathing problems after Propofol 107 reports · 9.1% of its reports
Breathing problems after Atipamezole 150 reports · 14% of its reports
Breathing problems after Midazolam 67 reports · 9.0% of its reports
Breathing problems after Florfenicol + Mometasone + Terbinafine 28 reports · 4.0% of its reports
Breathing problems after Orbifloxacin 31 reports · 4.6% of its reports
Breathing problems after Acepromazine 40 reports · 6.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Methylprednisolone in cats · Medicines most reported with breathing problems