Elevated cholesterol (total) after Diphenhydramine in dogs

23 reports to the FDA describe elevated cholesterol (total) in dogs given Diphenhydramine. That is 0.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

23Reports

57%Marked serious

13%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

21 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 22%

1–2 days

1 5.6%

3–7 days

3 17%

1–4 weeks

3 17%

Over a month

7 39%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 13%

Still unwell when reported

12 52%

Died

1 4.3%

Euthanised

2 8.7%

Not known

5 22%

Problems reported at the same time

16 70%

12 52%

12 52%

11 48%

8 35%

7 30%

Didn't work as expected

5 22%

Hyperkalaemia

5 22%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Diphenhydramine cause elevated cholesterol (total) in dogs?: 23 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 21 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).

Elevated cholesterol (total) with similar medicines

Elevated cholesterol (total) after Melarsomine (Immiticide) 26 reports · 0.1% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan 60 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Butorphanol 29 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Cefpodoxime 26 reports · 0.6% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Tramadol 32 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Famotidine 33 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Chondroitin + Glucosamine 39 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Enalapril 22 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Ampicillin 27 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Elevated cholesterol (total) after Ursodiol 25 reports · 3.4% of its reports

All reported side effects of Diphenhydramine in dogs · Medicines most reported with elevated cholesterol (total)