Weakness after Cyclosporine (Atopica) in dogs

The FDA has received 235 reports of weakness in dogs after Cyclosporine. That is 1.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

235Reports

49%Marked serious

21%Recovered

20%Died or euthanised

15 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

18 17%

1–2 days

12 12%

3–7 days

11 11%

1–4 weeks

24 23%

Over a month

39 38%

How the animals did

Recovered

45 19%

Recovered with lasting effects

5 2.1%

Still unwell when reported

50 21%

Died

23 9.8%

Euthanised

23 9.8%

Not known

89 38%

Problems reported at the same time

98 42%

90 38%

72 31%

54 23%

54 23%

48 20%

47 20%

32 14%

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 weakness in dogs?: 235 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 15 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).

Weakness with similar medicines

Weakness after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) 404 reports · 1.4% of its reports
Weakness after Ilunocitinib (Zenrelia) 43 reports · 2.0% of its reports

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