What’s the best way to taper off bute? My donkey tweaked his foot and has been on 1/2 gram 2x/day for 5 days. Now he’s moving a lot better. I’ve never had a vet tell me to taper it off, but remember reading an article about it at some point.
I’ve never tapered bute, but I don’t see any reason not go to down to 1x/day for 2 days before stopping.
I’ve never tapered bute either.
Add me to the count of people who has never tapered off bute.
I’ve never heard of tapering off any NSAID.
Not the newest article, but this might have been the one I read. It’s been a while, which is why I’m asking.
https://www.equisearch.com/HorseJournal/if-youre-thinking-about-using-bute-5320
Interesting. Hopefully I’m not the only one who was never told to remove all hay 1 hour prior to giving bute and not putting the hay back until at least an hour after giving bute? Because that’s a new one on me.
I’ve never heard of tapering off bute or the hay removal either. If those things were solid science they would be common knowledge, especially after 20 years.
Removing hay for bute seems like a great way to ensure you’ll get gastric ulcers?
I’ve also never tapered off bute.
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That was my thought too.
All I know is my old horse has been taking bute for a long time (on and off) under the direction of my vet (who keeps very up to date) and I have never been told to do any of those things.
It’s all about context. It’s not about tapering in general.
• For acute conditions or flare-ups of old conditions where bute is indicated, treat with a rapidly tapering dosage schedule, e.g.:
1st dose - 2 to 2.5 grams;
2nd dose - another 2 to 2.5 grams in 24 hours;
3rd dose - 2 grams 36 hours after second dose;
4th dose - 1.5 grams 36 hours after third dose (only if needed).
Sudden onset of a new or old condition, give the larger dose early on, and work your way down.
I don’t take this to mean “my horse has been on 1.5gm bute for 6 months and I want to take him off, so I need to go down to 1gm for a few days, then 1/2gm for a few days”
My vet has actually used the above sort of protocol for her “bute tests”. Load up with the high dose, then come down over a couple days. I never considered it tapering, just front-loading and then seeing how they do on a smaller dose.
Thanks for your input everyone.
I actually do taper off bute, lol! But only over a couple of days. I find that interesting about withholding the hay - I generally try to make sure there’s something in their stomachs before giving bute or banamine. However that was only my thinking that humans are advised to take NSAIDs with food so I figured that might help horses too, and not a suggestion by my vet.
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