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Discussion on Research Study: Phenylbute and flunixin (Banamine) used together | |
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Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008 - 11:56 am: The use phenylbutazone and fulnixin together for the relief of muscoskeletal pain has been a fairly common practice though the USEF rules prohibiting both being in the blood of performaing horses has greatly curtailed the practice. This study did find the combination is more effective than bute alone but showed the potential for complications as one horse receiving the combination died of complications most likely associated with NSAID use.DrO J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008 Feb 15;232(4):577. Effectiveness of administration of phenylbutazone alone or concurrent administration of phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine to alleviate lameness in horses. Keegan KG. Objective-To determine the effectiveness of administering multiple doses of phenylbutazone alone or a combination of phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine to alleviate lameness in horses. Animals-29 adult horses with naturally occurring forelimb and hind limb lameness. Procedures-Lameness evaluations were performed by use of kinematic evaluation while horses were trotting on a treadmill. Lameness evaluations were performed before and 12 hours after administration of 2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment regimens. Phenylbutazone paste was administered at approximately 2.2 mg/kg, PO, every 12 hours for 5 days, or phenylbutazone paste was administered at approximately 2.2 mg/kg, PO, every 12 hours for 5 days in combination with flunixin meglumine administered at 1.1 mg/kg, IV, every 12 hours for 5 days. Results-Alleviation of lameness was greater after administration of the combination of NSAIDs than after oral administration of phenylbutazone alone. Improvement in horses after a combination of NSAIDs did not completely mask lameness. Five horses did not improve after either NSAID treatment. All posttreatment plasma concentrations of NSAIDs were less than those currently allowed by the United States Equestrian Federation Inc for a single NSAID. One horse administered the combination NSAID regimen died of acute necrotizing colitis during the study. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Administration of a combination of NSAIDs at the dosages and intervals used in the study reported here alleviated the lameness condition more effectively than did oral administration of phenylbutazone alone. This may attract use of combinations of NSAIDs to increase performance despite potential toxic adverse effects. (Am J Vet Res 2008;69:167-173). |