Malaise after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 131 reports of malaise in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 0.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

131Reports

58%Marked serious

11%Recovered

24%Died or euthanised

42 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

11 13%

1–2 days

11 13%

3–7 days

5 6.0%

1–4 weeks

15 18%

Over a month

42 50%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 11%

Still unwell when reported

65 50%

Died

12 9.2%

Euthanised

19 15%

Not known

20 15%

Problems reported at the same time

55 42%

52 40%

38 29%

31 24%

29 22%

21 16%

Didn't work as expected

20 15%

Leucocytosis

16 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 malaise in dogs?: 131 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 42 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).

Malaise with similar medicines

Malaise after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 67 reports · 0.4% of its reports
Malaise after Ilunocitinib (Zenrelia) 22 reports · 1.0% of its reports

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