Disorientation after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 311 reports of disorientation in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.0% across reports for all dog medicines.

311Reports

43%Marked serious

27%Recovered

12%Died or euthanised

3 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

73 28%

1–2 days

45 17%

3–7 days

42 16%

1–4 weeks

28 11%

Over a month

74 28%

How the animals did

Recovered

82 26%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 0.3%

Still unwell when reported

135 43%

Died

14 4.5%

Euthanised

22 7.1%

Not known

57 18%

Problems reported at the same time

85 27%

66 21%

57 18%

54 17%

50 16%

49 16%

36 12%

36 12%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Oclacitinib controls itching from allergies (tablet, a JAK inhibitor).

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

Questions owners ask

Can Oclacitinib cause disorientation in dogs?: 311 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 3 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).

Disorientation with similar medicines

Disorientation after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 133 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Disorientation after Ilunocitinib (Zenrelia) 21 reports · 1.0% of its reports

All reported side effects of Oclacitinib in dogs · Medicines most reported with disorientation