My mare foundered and needs to take oral banamine. Since she had an ulcer recently, treated with gastrogard, the vet said to administer her gastrogard while on banamine. I know banamine needs administering prior to food, but can I give gastrogard at the same time.
In humans, omeprazole is better given about 30 minutes prior to eating to avoid losing some efficacy due to food binding. My understanding is that’s the recommended way for horses too.
I would call your vet about the co-administration. I can’t find anything in the prescribing information for Gastrogard about drug interactions. In fact, they seem to have removed their prescribing information (AKA package insert) from their website. :mad:
The biggest concern about giving two drugs simultaneously is whether one will either increase the effects of the other or, more commonly, whether one will be reduced or delayed in efficacy due to competing for the same metabolic pathways.
I’m sure the vet feels it’s a prophylactic measure giving Gastrogard with the banamine, since the latter can cause or exacerbate ulcers in horses, but did you ask about alternatives in the non NSAID category? There were some studies a few years ago that looked at firocoxib and acetaminophen as alternatives to bute and banamine. I’m not sure what the current thought is on that.
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Thank you so much. I am trying to reach my vet, but alas. weekends are for emergencies and I will always yeild to that. And I know what you mean by the lack of info from gastrogard. Hmmm? Have never asked my vet about alternatives…I actually did not know you could give acetaminophen to horses. But I do know, and I will ask. Thank you again for the info and the time you took to answer my question.
:lol:
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You’re so welcome! I hope you get an answer soon. You might also try the number on the Merial site for Gastrogard. They could ask one of their vets who are involved in ongoing research for the product.
Good luck with all of it!
Banamine is absorbed by the mucosal tissues in the mouth, before it gets to the stomach. That’s why it is an effective way to give it.
Firocoxib is an NSAIDS as well.
Acetaminophen is not an NSAID. It has analgesic and anti-pyretic effects. It is not an anti inflammatory.
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Firocoxib an an NSAID but considered safer than bute and Banamine. Acetaminophen is an analgesic.
The trial I referenced used a variety of therapies, alone and in combination: https://thehorse.com/112669/firocoxib-acetaminophen-eyed-as-laminitis-treatments/
Oral Banamine is not recommended for horses with EGUS, according to the prescribing information.
I did find this about Banamine paste drug interactions:
Can this drug be given with other drugs?
Yes, but possible interactions may occur with aminoglycoside antibiotics (eg. amikacin, gentamicin), aspirin, corticosteroids, diuretics, heparin, methotrexate, oral anticoagulants, phenytoin, sulfa drugs, valproic acid, warfarin, other NSAIDs, other ulcer-causing drugs or drugs that cause kidney damage.
I don’t see anything here about omeprazole.
I’m not a vet, but i give UG when I give banamine because of ulcer risk (i have an ulcer prone one). Banamine hard on ulcery guys, but you need something strong for founder. usually vets use bute, but maybe because of ulcer history your vet has decided on banamine. I’m just putting that out there out of my own curiosity.
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I always give banamine with a chaser of GG or UG so both drugs within minutes of each other, ideally about 30-60 minutes before meal time.
You are correct - I mistyped and corrected my post!
