Behaviour change after Cyclosporine (Atopica) in dogs

The FDA has received 431 reports of behaviour change in dogs after Cyclosporine. That is 2.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.5% across reports for all dog medicines.

431Reports
34%Marked serious
19%Recovered
8.8%Died or euthanised
17 daysTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
40 26%
1–2 days
15 9.6%
3–7 days
8 5.1%
1–4 weeks
36 23%
Over a month
57 37%

How the animals did

Recovered
82 19%
Recovered with lasting effects
2 0.5%
Still unwell when reported
62 14%
Died
17 3.9%
Euthanised
21 4.9%
Not known
247 57%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
4
1–3 years
82
4–7 years
157
8–11 years
124
12+ years
50

About this medicine

Cyclosporine controls allergic skin disease and some immune conditions.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Cyclosporine cause behaviour change in dogs?
431 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 17 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).

Behaviour change with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Cyclosporine in dogs · Medicines most reported with behaviour change