Commonly Used Drugs

                                              Commonly Used Drugs 

 Antibiotics:

• Gentamicin-aminoglycoside, can be renal-toxic

• Clindamycin- lincosamide

• Amoxicillin- aminopenicillin

• Enrofloxacin- fluoroquinolone (-oxacin suffix), may cause cartilage defects in young dogs, or blindness in cats

• Cephalexin- 1st generation cephalosporin (oral)

• Cefpodoxime- 3rd generation cephalosporin (oral)

• Cefazolin- 1st generation cephalosporin (injectable)

• Cefovecin (Convenia)-3rd generation cephalosporin (injectable)

• Trimethoprim-Sulfa (TMS)- sulfonamide, may cause dry-eye

• Doxycycline- tetracycline antibiotic (Doxy doesn’t typically cause bone and teeth abnormalities or discoloration in young animals but tetracyclines in general may cause this side effect). Should not be given as a dry pill to cats, as esophageal strictures may occur.

• Metronidazole- used commonly to treat diarrhea or colitis, can rarely cause a neurotoxicity which treatment for is diazepam. May be used to treat Giardia.

Corticosteroids:

• Prednisone

• Prednisolone

• Triamcinolone (Vetalog/Kenalog)- 4-10X more potent than hydrocortisone

• Methylprednisolone

Analgesics:

Opioids: are mu agonists or partial mu agonists, reversed with naloxone 

• Fentanyl*- injectable or comes in a patch

• Morphine*

• Hydromorphone*

• Buprenorphine*-injectable can also be used orally, absorbs through oral mucosa

• Butorphanol*- injectable or tablets (tablets used as antitussive)

• Tramadol* (Ultram)- tablets- synthetic mu-receptor opiate agonist

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories: all NSAIDS cause increased risk of GI ulceration and may have effects on the liver and kidneys, labwork should be monitored 

• Carprofen (Rimadyl)-COX-2 inhibitor; rarely may cause liver failure, most commonly used post-operatively for analgesia and for arthritis management or acute orthopedic injury

• Meloxicam (Metacam)- may enhance risk of nephrotoxicity, mostly COX-2 inhibitor

• Ketoprofen (Ketofen)- used most frequently as a fever reducer

• Firocoxib (Previcox)- COX-2 inhibitor

• Deracoxib (Deramaxx)- COX-2 inhibitor (may have some COX-1 effects at higher doses)

• Flunixin Meglumine (Banamine)- used mostly in horses

• Phenylbutazone (“Bute”)- used mostly in horses

Anesthetics/Tranquilizers: 

Injectables: 

• Ketamine*- dissociative anesthetic, causes muscle rigidity (used with diazepam because of this)

• Tiletamine*- dissociative anesthetic, part of Telazol (along with zolazepam)

• Valium* -benzodiazepine (end in the suffix –pam), causes skeletal muscle relaxation and sedation by enhancing GABA

• Propofol- short acting hypnotic agent/injectable anesthetic, given slowly, may cause apnea and hypotension, white opaque in color

• Lidocane/Bupivicaine (local anesthetics, Lidocaine also given as anti-arrhythmic)

• Dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor)- alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, reversed with atipamezole (Antesedan-an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist), should not be used in pets with cardiac disease or that are debilitated

• Xylazine- alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, reversed with yohimbine-an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist)

• Acepromazine- phenothiazine tranquilizer, may lower seizure threshold (this is controversial but could be asked on boards)

• Apomorphine*- used to cause vomiting (emetic), injectable or comes in a tablet which can be placed in the conjunctival sac in the eye, opioid

• Thiopental- short acting thiobarbiturate, not recommended for greyhounds or other sighthounds due to slow metabolism of this drug

Inhalants: most common side effect of inhalants is hypotension 

• Isoflurane

• Sevoflurane

• Halothane (not widely used due to side effects, especially cardiac)

Cardiac/Blood Pressure 

• Furosemide (Lasix)- Loop diuretic most often used in congestive heart failure

• Enalapril/Benazapril- ace-inhibitors (end in suffix –pril), used in treating heart failure and hypertension, sometimes used in chronic renal failure, causes vasodilation

• Pimobendan (Vetmedin)- inodilator, used in treating congestive heart failure

• Spironolactone (potassium sparing diuretic)

• Amlodipine (decreases blood pressure, choice anti-hypertensive for cats)

• Atropine- anticholinergic, used to increase heart rate; used in CPCR and also during anesthesia to treat bradycardia

Anti-Parasitics: 

• Fenbendazole (Panacur)- general anthelmentic, also commonly used to treat Giardia

• Sulfadimethoxine (Albon)- treats coccidia

• Pyrantel- used primarily for ascarids

• Emodepside and Praziquantel (Profender)- topical dewormer for felines (Praziquantel is the treatment for tapeworms)

• Praziquantel, Pyrantel, and Febantel (Drontal plus) dewormer for canine or feline

• Selamectin (Revolution)- topical parasite prevention (ear mite tx, flea control, hooks, rounds, heartworm prevention), treatment for Sarcoptes

• Ivermectin (Heartgard or injectable)- heartworm prevention, hooks, rounds, demodex treatment with injectable, contraindicated in Collie type breeds

• Milbemycin (Interceptor)- (dogs or cats) heartworm prevention, hooks, rounds, whips

Gastrointestinal: 

• Famotidine (Pepcid AC)- H2 receptor blocker

• Carafate (Sucralfate)- gastroprotectant, also known as a “band-aid” for the GI tract, may impair absorption of some oral medications

• Metoclopramide (Reglan)- upper GI pro-kinetic agent, may cause excitement or hyperactivity in cats, anti-emetic- prevents nausea by blocking dopamine in the chemo-receptor trigger zone (CRTZ)

• Maropitant (Cerenia)- anti-nausea/anti-vomiting agent

• Cisapride- pro-motility agent for upper and lower GI, used in cats with megacolon (not commercially available, must get compounded)

• Omeperazole (Prilosec)- proton pump inhibitor, used for treating and preventing GI ulcers

• Misoprostol- prostaglandin E1 analog, used to prevent gastric ulceration

Other Miscellaneous Drugs: 

• Methocarbamol (Robaxin)- muscle relaxant

• Fluconazole/ketoconazole/itraconazole- anti-fungals, potentially hepatotoxic

• Trilostane (Vetoryl)- adrenal steroid synthesis inhibitor, used in treating hyperadrenocorticism

• Levothyroxine- thyroid hormone, treats hypothyroidism

• Methimazole (Tapazole)- inhibits synthesis of thyroid hormone, treatment for hyperthyroidism

• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)- anti-histamine, used for allergies and allergic reactions

• Epinephrine- alpha and beta- adrenergic agonist, used mostly in anaphylaxis and cardiac resuscitation

• Guafenisen- muscle relaxant/ oral expectorant used primarily in large animal anesthesia for the muscle relaxation

• Pentobarbital* (Beuthanasia, Fatal Plus, others)- barbiturate, mostly used for euthanasia in vet med

• Phenobarbital*- barbiturate, anti-seizure medication

• Mirtazapine- tetracyclic antidepressant/ 5-HT3 antagonist- used as appetite stimulant in dogs and cats

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References : 

1) Plumb, Donald C. Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook. 6th edition. Blackwell Publishing. 2008.

2) Bil l, Robert L. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics for the Veterinary Technician. Mosby. 2006.