Loss of appetite after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in cats

The FDA has received 79 reports of loss of appetite in cats after Oclacitinib. That is 17% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 14% across reports for all cat medicines.

79Reports

73%Marked serious

6.3%Recovered

25%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

33 46%

1–2 days

13 18%

3–7 days

10 14%

1–4 weeks

7 9.7%

Over a month

9 13%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 6.3%

Still unwell when reported

44 56%

Died

6 7.6%

Euthanised

14 18%

Not known

10 13%

Problems reported at the same time

45 57%

42 53%

33 42%

29 37%

26 33%

20 25%

17 22%

Third eyelid protrusion

14 18%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Oclacitinib controls itching from allergies (tablet, a JAK inhibitor).

Products with this ingredient include Apoquel. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Oclacitinib cause loss of appetite in cats?: 79 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).

Loss of appetite with similar medicines

Loss of appetite after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 547 reports · 18% of its reports

All reported side effects of Oclacitinib in cats · Medicines most reported with loss of appetite