Skin scab after Methylprednisolone in cats

The FDA has received 45 reports of skin scab in cats after Methylprednisolone. That is 2.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.3% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

45Reports

67%Marked serious

4.4%Recovered

11%Died or euthanised

11 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 14%

1–2 days

3 8.1%

3–7 days

8 22%

1–4 weeks

12 32%

Over a month

9 24%

How the animals did

Recovered

2 4.4%

Still unwell when reported

28 62%

Died

2 4.4%

Euthanised

3 6.7%

Not known

10 22%

Problems reported at the same time

Hair loss

26 58%

Itching

24 53%

Skin rash or irritation

21 47%

Didn't work as expected

17 38%

Loss of appetite

10 22%

Application site reaction

10 22%

Vomiting

8 18%

Lethargy

7 16%

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 skin scab in cats?: 45 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 11 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).

All reported side effects of Methylprednisolone in cats · Medicines most reported with skin scab