Pentosan - why a loading dose?

[mydogs]

What loading dose do you follow for Pentosan?
What is the purpose of the loading dose?

Because of the cold weather, I kind of fell behind on the loading dose schedule since I didn’t go out to the barn. We got to injection #2. I’m debating if I want to start the loading dose again.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

I give 6ml once a week for 4 weeks for a #1200 TB. The purpose of the loading dose is to bring the amount of the drug in the system up to therapeutic levels… after that it’s just maintaining it. Some people do 6ml once a month after that to maintain, others do a loading dose every 6 months. It really depends on what the horse needs.

If it’s not been too long since the last dose I probably wouldn’t worry about doing the loading dose all over again, I would just finish it out.

[mydogs]

@BoyleHeightsKid

IIf it’s not been too long since the last dose I probably wouldn’t worry about doing the loading dose all over again, I would just finish it out.

Thanks! I think it has been around 3 weeks since injection #2

[BoyleHeightsKid]

I might go ahead and do the loading dose again if it’s been that long. It can’t hurt.

[mydogs]

@BoyleHeightsKid

I might go ahead and do the loading dose again if it’s been that long. It can’t hurt.

Thanks! That’s why I was wondering what the purpose of the loading dose was for

[raisethebar]

I could be wrong, but i thought the loading dose was the same as Adequan? I just bought another bottle and will be starting it today. My horse hasn’t had it for a couple of months and was wondering what the best route to go with the loading dose.

The 4 shots at 6 ml might be a great way to start and lessen the amount of shots my guy gets. He is wimpy and sometimes gets stiff after shots. Even normal shots.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

6ml once a week for 4 weeks is what I’ve always been told by the vet for Pentosan.

[JB]

@mydogs

Thanks! That’s why I was wondering what the purpose of the loading dose was for

I don’t know of the research behind Pentosan, but I assume it’s at least similar to the research for Adequan,which was that the 1x4x7 protocol is what showed to have the most effect on the cartilage support. Less than that provided less improvement, and more than that didn’t provide significantly more improvement.

I agree that if it’s been 3 weeks, I’d start the loading protocol over. Thankfully that’s cheaper than with Adequan!

[mydogs]

Thanks everyone! I just got off the phone with my vet too and they also confirmed that I can start the loading dose over again.

[beau159]

My vet always instructs me to give 6 mL of pentosan every 3 days for the loading dose, giving 5 shots in total. Then 1 shot a month thereafter to maintain.

On this type of supplement, I think it’s pretty safe in terms of over-dosing so I wouldn’t think you’d be hurting anything by starting your loading dose again.

[mydogs]

@beau159

My vet always instructs me to give 6 mL of pentosan every 3 days for the loading dose, giving 5 shots in total. Then 1 shot a month thereafter to maintain.

Have you tried giving 6mL once a week for a month? Have you seen a difference in results between the two loading doses?

[TWH_Girl]

@JB

I don’t know of the research behind Pentosan, but I assume it’s at least similar to the research for Adequan,which was that the 1x4x7 protocol is what showed to have the most effect on the cartilage support. Less than that provided less improvement, and more than that didn’t provide significantly more improvement.

I agree that if it’s been 3 weeks, I’d start the loading protocol over. Thankfully that’s cheaper than with Adequan!

Dr. Wayne McIllwraith at Colorado State did some studies on Pentosan and is a big fan.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12203.x/abstract

Unfortunately, Pentosan has little to no effect on my guy so I stopped giving it.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

[h=3]http://www.horsevet.co.nz/products/item/5/pentosan-equine/

"Dosage & Administration[/h]
Pentosan Equine injection should be administered by i/m or i/a injection at a dosage of 3mg/kg b.w.(6mL vial/500kg horse) at 5-7 day intervals for 4 injections. For maximum effect tissues should be exposed to the drug over an extended period of time. In approximately 80% of accurately diagnosed conditions a marked improvement will be noted after the second injection. Improvement for up to 6 months following a course of 4 injections can be expected and a lot of competition horses stay on a monthly injection protocol"

[mydogs]

@BoyleHeightsKid

[h=3]http://www.horsevet.co.nz/products/item/5/pentosan-equine/

"Dosage & Administration[/h]
Pentosan Equine injection should be administered by i/m or i/a injection at a dosage of 3mg/kg b.w.(6mL vial/500kg horse) at 5-7 day intervals for 4 injections. For maximum effect tissues should be exposed to the drug over an extended period of time. In approximately 80% of accurately diagnosed conditions a marked improvement will be noted after the second injection. Improvement for up to 6 months following a course of 4 injections can be expected and a lot of competition horses stay on a monthly injection protocol"

Thanks!!

[beau159]

@mydogs

Have you tried giving 6mL once a week for a month? Have you seen a difference in results between the two loading doses?

No I have not, because that’s not what my vet instructed me to do.

Now I wouldn’t “notice a difference” anyway because for this particular horse, I am doing pentosan as a preventative supplement. He doesn’t have any issues and I want to keep it that way!

[Obsidian_Fire]

Where are you finding Pentosan or Pentosan EQ for sale? Everywhere I’m looking says ‘backorder’.

Other options, aside from Adequan?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@Obsidian Fire

Where are you finding Pentosan or Pentosan EQ for sale? Everywhere I’m looking says ‘backorder’.

Other options, aside from Adequan?

Right… the only way I know to get it now is from a compounding pharmacy… which by the way has been very very safe if done by a reputable place. Just incase anyone is leery of getting from a compounding pharmacy.

[QHF]

I recently purchased Pentosan Platinum from Racehorsemeds.com They also have the gold.