Prednisolone & Deramaxx question

[Sparkly]

Hopefully, K9Karen and Traci will read this.

Our 13 yr old rescue Bichon boy has been itching like crazy again and coming up with new hot spots. This usually happens once or twice a year.

We stopped the Deramaxx (we give it with pepcid) for his arthritis, and put him on prednisolone (0.5 mg) today--starting with a loading dose for 3 days, then a pill every other day for a week, then we'll taper that off like we've done before.

I was told at one of our vet appts a few months ago for his arthritis, that we cannot give Deramaxx with prednisolone.

When Mr. Sparkly went to pick up the Rx of prednisolone this afternoon, he said he asked about the Deramaxx and while he didn't speak directly to the vet, he was told we can give the Deramaxx on alternating days...he thinks that's what she said. Mr. Sparkly misses A LOT sometimes when he's not wearing his hearing aids!!!!

The vet's office is closed until next Monday (!) so I cannot call them to verify! Is this true? That we can give the two different meds on alternating days once we finish the loading dose of the prednisolone? ..or is there some kind of a "half life" for these medications that will be a problem with medication overlapping in our boy's system even though they'd be given on alternating days?

Thanks for any clarification!!!

Mrs. Sparkly

[Traci]

NO, the use of prednisone and dermaxx together should NOT be used. Dermaxx is an NSAID, while prednisone is a corticosteroid, so the side effects of using both could be disastrous.

On Monday or Tuesday, call the clinic, tell the vet what hubby was told, because the vet needs to take aside the person who told your hubby this, and be corrected! That person could have seriously harmed a pet!

Use only the prednisone, and follow up with the vet as he advises for a recheck on bloodwork if necessary.

[Sparkly]

Thanks, Traci!!! I wrote a reply with a questions and am not sure why it did post.

I knew not to give deramaxx and prednisolone on the same day, but am still wondering if they can be given on alternating days... i.e. pred on Thursday, deramaxx on Friday, pred on Saturday, deramaxx on Sunday, pred on Monday... so I guess that's my question.

I'll be calling the vet's office on Monday, but at this point, I don't know if Mr. Sparkly didn't hear things correctly or if he misunderstood what he heard or what!

Thank you again!
Mrs. Sparkly

[Traci]

The answer is still no - NSAIDS and corticosteroids (or glucocorticoids and other meds in these classes of drugs) should not be used in conjunction. The serum levels for either type of drugs will be positive or stay in the system for some time, so it is for this reason that we taper off slowly (in the case of corticosteroids).

Typically, when one class of drug is used and for whatever reason, a vet may choose a different class of drugs to treat the same condition, there should be either a cessation or tapering off of the first drug before the second drug is given - sort of like a short break between the first and second to clear the system before the new drug is given. One would never want to give NSAIDS and corticosteroids together, no matter the dose and no matter the staggering of doses, it carries too much risk.

Again, use only the prednisone. Talk with your vet about what hubby was told - if someone really told him the dermaxx and prednisone could be used together on alternating days, that person needs a good talking to by the vet.

[Traci]

P.S., the site was being moved onto a new server, so there might have been a few latent issues within the last day or two, but there shouldn't be any more problems, I hope!

[Sparkly]

Traci, thank you so much for clarifying!

Mr. Sparkly is sure he was told we could do alternate days for the 2 meds.

I'll be taking this up with our vet!!!!! SO SCARY!!!!

Sparkly