Tremors after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 178 reports of tremors in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 6.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 3.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

178Reports

72%Marked serious

22%Recovered

21%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

75 45%

1–2 days

34 20%

3–7 days

14 8.4%

1–4 weeks

19 11%

Over a month

24 14%

How the animals did

Recovered

40 22%

Still unwell when reported

74 42%

Died

15 8.4%

Euthanised

23 13%

Not known

26 15%

Problems reported at the same time

85 48%

75 42%

72 40%

47 26%

45 25%

44 25%

38 21%

35 20%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Dexamethasone reduces inflammation and immune activity.

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

Questions owners ask

Can Dexamethasone cause tremors in dogs?: 178 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).

Tremors with similar medicines

Tremors after Prednisone 491 reports · 5.5% of its reports
Tremors after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 109 reports · 5.2% of its reports
Tremors after Prednisolone 76 reports · 6.3% of its reports
Tremors after Dexamethasone + Neomycin + Thiabendazole 23 reports · 3.6% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexamethasone in dogs · Medicines most reported with tremors