Jinx was given 3 dosages of metacam.
You can see I don't even know from the "prescription"
what the dosage was.
It was in this syringe.
I believe it was filled up to 1.0mL
But I won't swear to that.
The Vet gave him his first dose Monday.
She told us to give him two more doses, one on Tuesday and
one Today. So, we did.
Things have been crazy at my house and I did not check
to see if there were any problems with metacam.
There are.
So, from my research today I found that a one time injection
of metacam is deemed fairly safe.
But repeated oral dosages are not.
Metacam is safe for dogs, and part of the problem seems
to be that Vets are giving "dog" doses to cats.
(my vet said she gave her own cat this medication because of oral surgery)
Metacam is a NSAID and cats do have have the liver enzymes to
break it down and it goes to their kidneys and can cause renal failure
and death.
So...as anyone can imagine I FEEL HORRIBLE about giving this to Jinx.
He is fine at the moment.
But, I am not.
I should know better.
This isn't the first time I've had a Vet give me medication that was questionable.
Can anyone give me feedback on experiences with ORAL metacam?
Here is what the FDA says:
Animal & Veterinary
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FDA Announces Addition of Boxed Warning to METACAM® (meloxicam) Labels
October 27, 2010
The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today the addition of a
boxed warning to the label of two METACAM® (meloxicam) products. The
drug’s manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (B.I.V.I.),
changed the label to include:
WARNING
Repeated
use of meloxicam in cats has been associated with acute renal failure
and death. Do not administer additional injectable or oral meloxicam to
cats. See Contraindications, Warnings, and Precautions for detailed
information.
|
The label change affects:
- METACAM® Solution for Injection, under New Animal Drug Application (NADA) 141-219; and
- METACAM® Oral Suspension, under NADA 141-213.
Boxed
warnings on prescription drug labels highlight for prescribers certain
contraindications or adverse drug events, especially those that may
cause death or serious harm. A contraindication occurs when the risk of
using the drug in a patient outweighs any benefit. An adverse drug
event, also called an adverse drug experience, occurs when there is an
undesired side effect associated with the drug, or when there is a lack
of effect (the drug does not do what it is supposed to do).
FDA
asked B.I.V.I. to add the boxed warning based on FDA’s review of
reported adverse drug events for METACAM®. FDA identified many cases of
kidney failure and death in cats associated with repeated use of
METACAM®.
METACAM®
Solution for Injection is approved for one-time use in cats before
surgery to control postoperative pain and inflammation associated with
orthopedic surgeries, spays, and neuters. In the United States, the
safety and effectiveness of more than one dose of METACAM® Solution for
Injection has not been shown in cats for any condition.
METACAM®
Solution for Injection and METACAM® Oral Suspension are approved in
dogs to control pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.
METACAM® Oral Suspension is approved for dogs only. No safe and
effective dose of the oral suspension is approved for cats.
FDA
is aware that some veterinarians prescribe or use METACAM® in an
extra-label manner. When an approved drug is used in a manner other than
what is stated on the label, it is an extra-label (or “off-label”) use.
Under certain circumstances, veterinarians are allowed to use a drug in
an extra-label manner. The new boxed warning on the METACAM® labels
helps inform veterinarians of the serious risks associated with
extra-label use of meloxicam in cats.
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