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How long between metacam and anabolic steroids?

LurcherGirl

Mama Doe
My bunny has been on metacam for just a few days, but now want to switch to anabolic steroids. How long should the gap be between finishing the metacam and starting the steroid to avoid any problems? I want to start the steroids as soon as possible so his appetite can pick up, but of course I don't want him to cause any additional pain/problems by overlapping them too soon.
 
I have no idea. Personally I'd suggest giving your vet a ring in the morning; they are the professionals after all.
 
The clearance rate for meloxicam is quite quick
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16521861
but will be influenced by the length of treatement and dose. there is a potential drug interaction between meloxicam and corticosteroids so as Angie B says talk to your vet. I assume your vet has prescribed the steroid so I would have expected them to advise you
 
Thanks everyone.

I had already talked to my vet and he has given me a time frame of one week - which seems a bit on the long side, but I am happy to stick to that. I was just wondering whether anyone has got any particular experience with bunnies as I can't find anything about it on the internet other than the two drugs are not normally compatible and there needs to be a gap.
 
Thanks everyone.

I had already talked to my vet and he has given me a time frame of one week - which seems a bit on the long side, but I am happy to stick to that. I was just wondering whether anyone has got any particular experience with bunnies as I can't find anything about it on the internet other than the two drugs are not normally compatible and there needs to be a gap.

Are you referring to Corticosteroids or Anabolic Steroids ??

Corticosteroids

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Chem/ChComplex/Dexamethasone.htm

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Chem/ChComplex/Prednisolone.htm

Anabolic Steroid

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Chem/ChComplex/Nandralone.htm
 
Thanks Jane. It is anabolic steroids (it's in the title, but it seems that everyone is missing it ;) ). Many thanks for the link which I have read, but it doesn't give any info about the gap between Metacam and anabolic steroid either... unless I am reading it wrong. :(
 
Why have anabolic steroids been suggested ?

Just curious !! Only time I have had them prescribed is as part of the treatment of a Rabbit in chronic renal failure.
 
My bunny is now in chronic renal failure and on Fortekor. This means of course he can't have metacam anymore. He eats on and off and has lost a lot of weight. He needs his teeth doing but we won't be able to do that until he has put on a bit more weight. It's to much of a high risk at the moment.
 
Thanks Jane. It is anabolic steroids (it's in the title, but it seems that everyone is missing it ;) ). Many thanks for the link which I have read, but it doesn't give any info about the gap between Metacam and anabolic steroid either... unless I am reading it wrong. :(

:wave: I didn't miss it, but it's a very unusual treatment and some people think any steroids are anabolic steroids. I'd stick with the vets advice. Given the circumstances, I suspect they are probably allowing a long gap to give the kidneys a break rather than just waiting for the meloxicam to get out of the system.
 
My bunny is now in chronic renal failure and on Fortekor. This means of course he can't have metacam anymore. He eats on and off and has lost a lot of weight. He needs his teeth doing but we won't be able to do that until he has put on a bit more weight. It's to much of a high risk at the moment.

I am sorry :cry:
 
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