Isoxsuprine For Horses
There are some supplements and medicines that we see used in treatment for humans, but also for our horses! These are safe for both humans and animals to use, and sometimes they are used to treat the same thing, while other times, the medicines are used differently depending upon the species receiving treatment.
One example of such a medicine is the one known as isoxsuprine. Keep reading to learn more about what isoxsuprine is, as well as how it can be beneficial to your horse and how much of this to administer to your horse in times of need!
What Is Isoxsuprine?
Now, the first question is, what is isoxsuprine? Isoxsuprine is a drug for human use, but it is also sometimes prescribed for horses. For humans, it is typically used to treat pregnancy symptoms and to treat premature labor.
It works by relaxing smooth muscle that surrounds small blood vessels, causing “vasodilation”. It is known to be able to enlarge blood vessels and to improve circulation.
Isoxsuprine is also part of a group of medicines that are known as vasodilators.
When it is prescribed for horses, it is usually prescribed for the purpose of treating laminitis and navicular disease. We will go over this and isoxsuprine’s use for your horse in more detail below.
What Does Isoxsuprine Do For Your Horse?
Isoxsuprine can be used for a few different purposes in horses. One of the most common is to treat issues like laminitis and navicular disease.
Laminitis in horses is a painful condition that frequently occurs in our equine partners. It affects the tissues that bond the hoof wall and the pedal bone in the hoof.
Navicular disease, on the other hand, is the degeneration or inflammation of the navicular bone and the surrounding tissues. Usually this occurs in the front feet of a horse. If untreated, navicular disease can even lead to lameness in a horse. Another thing that isoxsuprine is used for in horses is pregnancy related— just like when the drug is used for humans. It can also be used to prevent premature labor in horses, just as it can be used for humans for this purpose.
Something to be aware of here is that isoxsuprine is not FDA-approved for the use of treatment on animals. For this reason, it cannot be found at a veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturer and instead will need to be compounded from a specialty pharmacy.
How Much Isoxsuprine Should You Give Your Horse?
If you are going to be giving your horse isoxsuprine, you should first consult your vet. Then, you may wonder how much of the drug to administer to your horse. Give the drug to your horse exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian. You should be sure to give your horse the medication every day, and if you happen to miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember.
If it is, at that point, close to the next dosage, you can then return to the normal schedule instead. Avoid giving your horse a double dose to catch up if you have missed a dose, though!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for isoxsuprine to work in horses?
Isoxsuprine is considered to be a supplement that is rapidly absorbing, in both humans and in horses. In horses, isoxsuprine will reach serum peak levels 8 hours after it is orally administered. This is slower than in humans or dogs, and the time can be chalked up to the fact that the horse has a higher body mass, for one reason. In humans, isoxsuprine will take effect and reach peak serum in about 20 to 180 minutes, and in dogs, it will take 20 to 60 minutes to reach peak levels.
What is isoxsuprine used for?
Isoxsuprine is a beta-adrenergic that also goes by the name Vasodilan.
It has many uses, including in pregnancy for relaxing the uterine smooth muscles and can be used for pre-labor symptom treatment and dysmenorrhea. Isoxsuprine directly affects vascular smooth muscle, and also results in peripheral vascular dilation. It is also one of the many vasodilators, which is a group of medicines which increase the size of blood vessels.
By enlarging and widening the blood vessels, isoxsuprine and other vasodilators help to increase blood flow and improve circulation to different parts of the body. As you can probably guess, many of the issues that isoxsuprine treats are issues that come from poor blood circulation.
Why is isoxsuprine used in pregnancy?
Isoxsuprine can be used in pregnancy, and the reason for this is that isoxsuprine is able to relax the smooth, uterine muscles— of course, the uterine muscles are involved in pregnancy and in birth. It can be used in pre term labor treatment and in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation or abdominal cramps.
Therefore, isoxsuprine is able to treat painful pre labor and pregnancy symptoms as well. Sometimes, isoxsuprine is even prescribed during the last months of pregnancy to be used in order to prevent premature labor. As it helps to relax those uterine muscles, as we mentioned above, it can be used to prevent contractions. However, it should still be used with caution during pregnancy and only when recommended by your doctor.
What is a substitute for isoxsuprine?
Isoxsuprine is part of a group of medicines called vasodilators, and it is a beta adrenergic. Isoxsuprine is used for a few different purposes, but essentially, it is used to enlarge blood vessels and improve circulation.
It and the other vasodilators are used to treat certain issues that are linked to or caused by poor circulation. Another use for isoxsuprine is during pregnancy, as it is able to relax the smooth uterine muscles. It can help to prevent cramps during menstruation or contractions during pregnancy, meaning that it is sometimes used for preventing early labor in pregnant patients.
When it comes to using isoxsuprine for pregnancy, another safe potential substitute for this beta adrenergic is Nifedipine.