Deafness after Cyclosporine (Atopica) in dogs

The FDA has received 52 reports of deafness in dogs after Cyclosporine. That is 0.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.6% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

52Reports

58%Marked serious

19%Recovered

3.8%Died or euthanised

33 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 23%

1–2 days

4 18%

3–7 days

1 4.5%

1–4 weeks

1 4.5%

Over a month

11 50%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 5.8%

Recovered with lasting effects

7 13%

Still unwell when reported

14 27%

Died

2 3.8%

Not known

26 50%

Problems reported at the same time

13 25%

8 15%

7 13%

6 12%

6 12%

5 9.6%

Eye or vision problems

4 7.7%

Head tilt - ear disorder

4 7.7%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

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 deafness in dogs?: 52 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 33 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).

Deafness with similar medicines

Deafness after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) 96 reports · 0.3% of its reports

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