I’d be mildly concerned about a local reaction, more than anything systemic.
Hospital already indicated the status but a doc I talked to way back when I did the same thing with Ace (barn cat startled the horse at just that instant) indicated reaction depends upon amt injected.
A needle prick where the plunger isn’t pressed is unlikely to inject much; only what may be at the very tip of the needle. Even then, the resulting slight bleeding would keep even most of that small bit from entering the system.
In my case I had no reaction at all but I was pretty paranoid for a few hours.
1 Like
What? It is meant for the mucus membranes of a large mammal for simple effect. It can’t kill humans on skin contact because there are no receptors in the skin and not well absorbed through skin. It is an alpha -2 adrenergic receptor agonist, which decreases cAMP and AKT-associated cell signalling. Relaxation of smooth muscle cells in vessels and the gut, plus everything else that decreases in cAMP does. Maybe if a human put a tube’s contents under their own tongue, but it certainly can’t kill a human by skin contact unless maybe combined with something like DMSO and slathered on the arm.
7 Likes
I’ve heard that rumor before and looked into it. Detomidine, in large enough quantity, or in a person with heart problems, can cause cardiac arrest. There was a case I read about where a young vet (student?) died, but s/he got stuck with a needle. Otherwise it just causes bradycardia and drowsiness etc.
I think the caution for gloves w/ the gel would have to do with small cuts or abrasions on the skin? It does say it can be absorbed through skin on the warning label, but it could always be a CYA.
Here’s a journal article about a needle stick case: http://emj.bmj.com/content/22/7/524
2 Likes
It is very unlikely you should have any concern re needle stick with Bute.
Bute has been used in people in the past but was withdrawn in the US . It can cause bone marrow suppression and liver tox when used chronically, but is not listed as a carcinogen
I took by prescription in the 70s
If anything you might get some small bit of skin inflammation from a puncture, like any puncture wound in a barn
3 Likes
Yes. Bute is a very old drug. I was told it causes leukemia in humans (or in longer-lived animals like us?) and that’s why it’s not longer prescribed. But no, a tad once wouldn’t hurt you.
1 Like
Phenylbutazone WAS used for humans, it was the first NSAID way back when. It was found to be mildly carcinogenic as well as sometimes causing bone marrow suppression. I remember in medical school back in -COUGH, sputters , aham ahem- it was still treatment of choice for gout. Small amount one time very unlikely to have any negative consequences.
4 Likes
A little off the track, but while we are talking about horse meds in humans…
A friend of mine called from the barn one Saturday morning frantic about when I was coming. She had a cold of some sort, and decided to take one SMZ. 1 tab per hundred pounds, so she figured there was a margin of error. It killed every organism in her body. I had to get her a package of Monistat and threw in a couple of huge containers of vanilla yogurt.
1 Like
:lol:
1 Like
Whenever a doc tries to give me a scrip for Bactrim, I tell them, “no thanks, I have a bottle of 500 in my barn!”
SMZs are the generic of Bactrim, a human drug. I’ve taken SMZs plenty of times.
No clue how 1 dose would kill every organism in your friend’s body!
Don’t even get me started how the human pharmacy charged me $43.00 for an eyedrop for my horse, when I could get it from my vet supplier for $2.00!!! :eek: (Needed it immediately, couldn’t wait for shipment from my supplier. Will never run out again,)
6 Likes
Yep, I’ve taken the smzs as have my dogs. It’s odd your friend had such an odd reaction as it’s regularly prescribed for utis, among other things. Maybe her dosing was way, way off.
4 Likes
Thanks for the info and the link! It seems that it is well absorbed via mucous membranes but not the skin. But I’m very interested in this article, thanks for sending it!! I can’t currently check it out until I’m in work tomorrow. I use dormosedan for shoeing, and sometimes I remember the gloves, sometimes not. But I’m a very good shot to get it under the tongue, not on the tongue and not on me. I obviously wouldn’t do this if I thought it would kill me!! The research I’ve done on the drug hasn’t scared me enough to impress the use of gloves in my brain, and I’m still alive never experiencing any adverse effects. Thank you!
I once got a partial rabies vaccine in the pad of my thumb. We were vaccinating a six month old foal and I was “head and tail” holding it. The foal jumped at the wrong split second and I got part of the dose. I looked at my vet…and he said well, the up side is if you bite anybody during the next year, you won’t have to spend any time in quarantine.
9 Likes
How the heck long does it take you to inject something thick like penicillin without using a 16g needle? And what about running bottles of calcium in under the skin? You’d stand there for hours even with an 18g.
Glad the OP got the advice needed!
1 Like
No but doesn’t cause leukemia, it causes bone marrow suppression, which is not the same thing
3 Likes
Would someone by able to explain why dosing “sublingually” is more effective than dosing “orally”?
Also curious: A dose of Adequan for a yearling would confer what sort of benefits? [post #9] Anything to boost joint health interests me, so am very curious.
1 Like
Orally means it has to go down to the stomach, and stomach acids may affect certain drugs, or their absorption (usually doesn’t get absorbed until in the intestines). Sublingually means the drug is directly absorbed through the oral mucous membranes under the tongue.
6 Likes
The Dormosedan Gel “User Safety” information advises to “Always wear impermeable gloves when handling the DORMOSEDAN GEL dosing syringe. For a minimum of two hours after administration, wear impermeable gloves when performing any tasks that require contact with the horse’s mouth.” and “DORMOSEDAN GEL can be absorbed into your body after direct exposure through the skin.”
I believe this. Last year I gave it to one of my horses, wearing rubber gloves of course. I removed the gloves after administering the gel and forgot all about it. Shortly after that I gave her a treat and got some of her saliva on my hand. I didn’t even think about it until about 45 minutes later when I started getting drowsy. I felt like I was drugged and had to go to the house and take a nap. Slept for two hours, and I am not a napper.
2 Likes
My vet recommends it for any horse that’s had a joint related trauma or injury, OCD surgery etc. It does seem to help to prevent the development of arthritis (although also I sometimes think he owns stock in it!)
1 Like
Bute is a category 2 carcinogen (ie suspected carcinogen based on limited evidence), check the MSDS. Rat and mouse studies have shown some increase in tumor formation with long term exposure, but the effect wasn’t that strong. So the OP should be fine in that respect.
I just really hate it when people talk about it being some “secret remedy” or something, especially when minors frequent this board. It’s just another NSAID which is much less safe than aspirin.
1 Like
