Commentry - (2021) Volume 9, Issue 4
Veterinary drugs tepoxalin: Equine use and adverse effects
Murray Hadden*
Description
Tepoxalin, marketed under the brand name Zubrin among many others, is a nonsteroidal antiflammatory drug (NSAIDs) generally used in veterinary medicine to reduce swelling in animals with osteoarthritis. In rare circumstances, Tepoxalin can also be used in human pharmacology to relieve pain caused by musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis and hip dysplasia. In 1997, the drug was patented for veterinary use, replacing isoxazole for treating inflammation. In 2017, the drug was banned from the American market and can no longer be administered in the United States.
Tepoxalin (C20H20ClN3O3) has been synthesized by several methods. There are many opinions about whether taking tepoxalin alone is more effective than taking it in combination with antihistamines, but in veterinary medicine tepoxalin is given regularly with antihistamines.
Tepoxalin (C20H20ClN3O3) was synthesized using several methods. This drug functions as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It inhibits both the enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and suppresses the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, respectively. Tepoxalin is sold as a white tasteless tablet that dissolves immediately when ingested by animals. These unscented tablets are sold under the Zublin brand. The plasma half-life of Zubrin after ingestion is 120 minutes, while the half-life of total metabolites is 13 hours. Therefore, it is usually prescribed once a day.
Available in the oral form, Tepoxalin is used to treat osteoarthritis in both dogs and cats. The use of Tepoxalin has been shown to be more effective than NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), carprofen when given to dogs orally. As a result, the use of carprofen was replaced by tepoxaline in 1998. Tepoxaline can only be given to dogs weighing 1.4 kg or more at a dose of 10-20 mg/kg on a daily schedule. The maximum estimated duration of complete treatment is 14 days. Longterm treatment (more than 180 days) can lead to gastrointestinal irritation and stomach ulcers. Tepoxalin plasma concentrations upon injection vary from dog to dog.
Because Tepoxalin has low water solubility and high fat solubility, it is more commonly prescribed to dogs than to fasting dogs, as this is more effective against Tepoxalin. In cats, Tepoxalin inhibits the COX-1 and 5-LOX enzymes. For cats, Tepoxalin is prescribed at a dosage of 5 to 10 mg/kg × 1 time/day for 3 consecutive days. Additionally, Tepoxalin can only be prescribed to cats that weigh more than 3 pounds (1.4 kg). When Tepoxalin is used in cats, rare cases of intoxication affecting the central nervous system have been reported.
Equine use
When administered to horses, the method may be a paste, powder or feed-in shape which may be fed orally or it could be injected intravenously however no different area within side the equine body, as it could reason tissue harm. However, if Tepoxalin is injected time and again within side the vein for extended length of time, it could additionally reason tissue harm and edema (trapped fluid in tissue).
Chronic inflammatory illnesses are the maximum not unusual place illnesses in horses. Phenylbutazone became previously used as treatment, however while administered to horses at excessive doses, it could reason ulcers of the glandular stomach, oral hollow space and colon. Due to the foremost damaging results of phenyl-butazone, the alternative via way of means of Tepoxalin became made to lessen muscular ache in 2003.
In horses, the drug is intravenously administered at 10 mg/kg on everyday dose for 10 days. Doses can be doubled or tripled to deal with excessive ache, which include laminitis. The plasma (cytoplasm; the primary a part of the capsule) half-lifestyles of Tepoxalin is 4–eight hours, even though the complete metabolite half-lifestyles is 24 hours, so unmarried dosing is green for horses. When given at affordable doses, the drug is non-poisonous even if used time and again.
Adverse effects
Veterinary centers have a high incidence of side effects of tepoxalin. Common side effects of taking tepoxalin include vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, loss of appetite, malaise, thirst, increased urination, and behavioral changes. Hair loss and skin abrasions can occur in older, sensitive animals. Do not use this drug in breeding, pregnant or lactating animals as the drug can affect the foetation and infants. In animals with a history of internal bleeding or hypotension, this can lead to perforation of the stomach or intestinal lining. Older dogs are more prone to side effects. When administered to male dogs, it has no effect on childbirth. However, embryo toxicity can occur when bitch are treated during organogenesis. As a result of this toxicity, the weight of the foetation is significantly reduced, various bones are incompletely formed, and other skeletal abnormalities occur. In extreme cases, this can lead to fetal death. Overdose can occur if doses are too high. Signs of overdose and toxicity in dogs and cats include tremors, seizures, abnormal behavior, vomiting, and weakness.