What Happens If You Give A Horse Too Much Dexamethasone?

Doses greater than those recommended in horses may produce a transient drowsiness or lethargy in some horses. The lethargy usually abates in 24 hours. Use of corticosteroids, depending on dose, duration, and specific steroid, may result in inhibition of endogenous steroid production following drug withdrawal.

Can you give a horse too much dexamethasone?

While they have many positive effects, there is a definite potential to cause negative side effects when overused or used improperly. Systemic side effects generally are dependent on dose and length of treatment. Laminitis is a possible side effect from any corticosteroid use in the horse.

What can too much dexamethasone do?

Taking dexamethasone for several months can increase the risk of some other side effects. If you take it long term you can get thinner bones (osteoporosis), eyesight problems and slower growth in children and teenagers. If you have diabetes, dexamethasone can affect blood sugar control.

What are the side effects of dexamethasone in horses?

Side effects of dexamethasone most commonly include increased drinking, urination, and appetite when given at any dose.

How long does dexamethasone stay in a horses system?

Dexamethasone was not detectable in urine at 72 h in five horses but was detectable at a low concentration (0.1 ng/mL) at 96 h in one horse.

How many hours does dexamethasone last?

Dexamethasone is a long-acting corticosteroid with a half-life of 36 to 72 hours. It is used frequently in children with croup and bacterial meningitis, and is well absorbed orally.

Is 40mg of dexamethasone a lot?

Usual dosage range: Oral, IV, IM: 4 to 20 mg/day given in a single daily dose or in 2 to 4 divided doses; High dose: 0.4 to 0.8 mg/kg/day (usually not to exceed 40 mg/day).

What are the disadvantages of dexamethasone?

Downsides
Indigestion, facial hair growth (especially in women), high blood pressure, slow skin healing and skin thinning, osteoporosis (brittle bones), low potassium levels, and problems with blood glucose control may also occur. Rarely, severe allergic reactions have been reported.

How much dexamethasone can you give a horse?

Dexamethasone Dosages for Horses
Anti-inflammatory; glucocorticoid agent (Labeled dosage): Dexamethasone 2.5 – 5 mg (total dose) IV or IM; dexamethasone sodium phosphate: 2.5 – 5 mg (total dose) IV.

How many ml of dexamethasone should a horse have?

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION:
For intramuscular or intravenous injection. Horses, cattle : 5 – 15 ml per animal. Calves, foals, sheep, goats, pigs : 1 – 2.5 ml per animal. Cats, dogs : 0.1 – 1 ml per 10 kg bodyweight.

How long does it take to flush dexamethasone out of your system?

How long do dexamethasone side effects last? With a half-life of four hours (the amount of time it takes the body to eliminate half a dose), a 20 mg dose is eliminated from the body in about 24 hours. Many of the temporary side effects of dexamethasone, such as mood changes or anxiety, will wear off by that time.

Can dexamethasone be stopped abruptly?

Do not stop taking dexamethasone without talking to your doctor. Stopping the drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, peeling skin, and weight loss.

How long should I wait between doses of dexamethasone?

Initial dose: 0.5 mg to 9 mg IV or IM per day in divided doses every 12 hours.

Can dexamethasone cause liver damage?

Concomitant usage of dexamethasone and other medications may alter electrolyte metabolism and increase the formation of potentially hepatotoxic reactive metabolites which can contribute to elevated liver enzymes.

Is 20mg of dexamethasone a lot?

Dexamethasone is recommended to be used at the lowest effective dose. General considerations: The initial dosage of Dexamethasone usually varies from 0.5 to 10 mg daily, depending on the disease being treated. In more severe disease conditions, doses above 10 mg per day may be required.

How much dexamethasone is normal?

Adults—At first, 0.75 to 9 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 0.02 to 0.3 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided and taken 3 or 4 times a day.

Is dexamethasone highly potent?

Dexamethasone is a long-acting, systemic corticosteroid; its potency is about 25 times greater than the short-acting products.

Does dexamethasone cause laminitis?

Laminitis reportedly develops when dexamethasone or triamcinolone is used to treat inflammation in horses. Substantial new data point to a role for inflammation in the development of laminitis, suggesting that glucocorticoids should inhibit its development.

What are the side effects of steroids in horses?

There are two main side effects that we worry about when treating with these drugs: infection and laminitis:

• Infection: because of their mechanism of action, steroids can suppress the body’s immune system.
• Laminitis: horses treated with steroids can develop laminitis.

How much dexamethasone should I inject?

For the comfort of the patient, not more than 2 ml should be injected intramuscularly at any one site. In emergencies, the usual dose of Dexamethasone 3.3 mg/ml solution for injection by intravenous or intramuscular injection is 3.3 mg – 16.6 mg (1.0 ml – 5.0 ml) – in shock use only the i.v. route.

How much dexamethasone can you give a horse?

Dexamethasone Dosages for Horses
Anti-inflammatory; glucocorticoid agent (Labeled dosage): Dexamethasone 2.5 – 5 mg (total dose) IV or IM; dexamethasone sodium phosphate: 2.5 – 5 mg (total dose) IV.