Hypothermia after Prednisolone in cats

The FDA has received 20 reports of hypothermia in cats after Prednisolone. That is 1.6% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.2% across reports for all cat medicines.

20Reports

95%Marked serious

20%Recovered

50%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 42%

1–2 days

1 8.3%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

3 25%

Over a month

3 25%

How the animals did

Recovered

4 20%

Still unwell when reported

5 25%

Died

2 10%

Euthanised

8 40%

Not known

1 5.0%

Problems reported at the same time

10 50%

8 40%

8 40%

7 35%

7 35%

7 35%

6 30%

6 30%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Prednisolone reduces inflammation and immune activity.

Steroids commonly cause increased thirst, urination and appetite, especially at higher doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Prednisolone cause hypothermia in cats?: 20 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 10 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).

Hypothermia with similar medicines

Hypothermia after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 20 reports · 2.5% of its reports
Hypothermia after Dexamethasone 53 reports · 6.9% of its reports

All reported side effects of Prednisolone in cats · Medicines most reported with hypothermia