Sedation after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 62 reports of sedation in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 0.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

62Reports

27%Marked serious

40%Recovered

4.8%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

31 54%

1–2 days

8 14%

3–7 days

2 3.5%

1–4 weeks

4 7.0%

Over a month

12 21%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 39%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.6%

Still unwell when reported

25 40%

Died

2 3.2%

Euthanised

1 1.6%

Not known

9 15%

Problems reported at the same time

Lethargy

16 26%

Vomiting

11 18%

Breathing problems

9 15%

Didn't work as expected

7 11%

Loss of appetite

6 9.7%

Behaviour change

6 9.7%

Sleepiness - neurological disorder

5 8.1%

Disorientation

5 8.1%

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 sedation in dogs?: 62 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 the same 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).

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