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Discussion on Pergolide - Cushings - New Findings
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Member:
Justin
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007 - 6:57 pm:
Hi,
This evening I heard a piece on NPR about the demonstrated dangers of the use of pergolide in humans (for Parkinson's Disease). The major finding is that pergolide causes an overgrowth of cells in heart valves, which leads to leakage. Is this something that folks who use pergolide for Cushings disease need to be concerned about?
Jane
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007 - 8:15 pm:
Oh, good. something else to worry about. I just ordered Pergolide for my gelding! I'll be waiting for the answer on this.
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 4, 2007 - 6:32 am:
I just saw this on the news also. I THINK the dosage used on horses is much less than the dosage used for humans, I wonder if that would make a difference.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 4, 2007 - 8:54 am:
The severity and frequency of this problem in humans is still out Jane (Valvular heart disease in Parkinson's disease vs. controls: An echocardiographic study. Peralta C, et.al. Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria). But in the studies that found an association both high doses and long treatment times were associated with the problems (Dopamine agonists and cardiac valvulopathy in Parkinson disease: a case-control study. Yamamoto M, et. al. Department of Neurology, Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital, Takamatsu, Japan).
Diane is correct, one important difference is the MUCH lower dosage (1/5 to 1/10th as much) given to horses on a per lb basis and humans with Parkinson's may be on these treatments for several decades, an unlikely thing in a horse. As our article on Cushings councils pergolide should be reserved for when management fails to control symptoms that significantly effect the quality of life and you should titer to the lowest effective dose.
DrO
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Member:
Justin
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Posted on Friday, Jan 5, 2007 - 12:52 pm:
Thank goodness the horse dosage is lower!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 6, 2007 - 11:43 am:
Whoa Jane, they are not taking humans off of these drugs, after all Parkinson's is no picnic, and the finding early and not without controversy but you are right the combination of lower doses and much shorter treatment times makes horses unlikely candidates for this complication even if it does pan out in humans.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 31, 2007 - 7:10 am:
Dr.O. Since they are withdrawing pergolide from the market for humans, does that mean it won't be available for horse owners also?
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