Halting Prascend Temporarily

[Bellalily]

We have been at a very large yard since before Christmas, but the fuel costs of the daily journey are crazy. It was always a temporary stop gap until something nearer came up, and I now have places reserved at a yard less than 3 miles from home with the same facilities and livery price. I will be able to do full DIY so will save a fortune on that and fuel immediately. The only problem is that I also need to send off for one of the horse’s new Prascend prescription and I just don’t have the money for it for a couple of weeks. He was recently tested and has gone from 193 last August to 27, so vet is pleased and I’m delighted to have my opinionated and bouncy horse back, but I’m just thinking that if I have to temporarily stop his meds, how quickly will he start to feel rubbish? I’m only going to have to wait a couple of weeks, so I’m hoping he’s going to be ok.
What does anyone else think? I have no way of paying for it till mid March and have 4 left, so I’ve been doing every other day this week.

 

[View]

I’d be paying for it now using a credit card and then paying the card off in a couple of weeks.

 

[splashgirl45]

I would say credit card as well, the main danger for me would be the likely hood of laminitis , I wouldn’t risk that personally . how long have you been with your vet? Could you ask them if it’s possible to do a payment plan until your money is available ,

 

[Bellalily]

I’d be paying for it now using a credit card and then paying the card off in a couple of weeks.

I have nothing left, otherwise I would.

 

[Bellalily]

I would say credit card as well, the main danger for me would be the likely hood of laminitis , I wouldn’t risk that personally . how long have you been with your vet? Could you ask them if it’s possible to do a payment plan until your money is available ,

Nothing left otherwise I would.

 

[Bellalily]

Buying online, just can’t for two weeks. I don’t want to pay vets as more ££££ that way. I just need to know whether two weeks is ok, given he was 18 months with it imo and vet refused blood tests.

 

[splashgirl45]

No one can tell you if it’s going to be ok , is there no one that could lend you the money for a couple of weeks? You have asked for advice and my honest opinion is that the danger of laminitis and maybe losing the horse is too great a risk…

 

[meleeka]

You could get a written prescription from your vet for 6 months and just buy two weeks worth from the online supplier. They sell them by each and keep your prescription on file so you can keep ordering up until you’ve had them all.

 

[Red-1]

I would sell something I think, because going onto it can cause issues, so I would presume withdrawal may too.

 

[shortstuff99]

Prascend helps to suppress symptoms and hormones from the pituitary gland, stopping it will allow the levels to increase and the disease to progress. I can't tell you if that's a risk you want to take or not. Perhaps ask advice from vet?

 

[Bionic Boy]

Do you know someone else that uses it and possibly borrow some, then replace it in a couple of weeks.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Prascend is not something that you can safely stop and start.

You really do need to find or borrow the money somehow. A single tablet costs about £1.12p - there must be something that you can sell to raise that amount of money if no one will lend it to you.

 

[paddy555]

I have no way of paying for it till mid March and have 4 left, so I’ve been doing every other day this week. ☹

I wonder if it may be better to do half a day rather then every other day. That way you will keep some sort of level. When you go back onto it daily increase from half to 3/4 for a few days and then back up to one.

 

[Boulty]

Would say beg, borrow or steal to keep at a constant dose. The potential health issues stopping it may cause could be far more expensive than either paying a bit more per pill from the vet or having to order a small amount to tide you over from online. Have you got any old bits, bridles, saddlecloths, rugs etc that you could sell on a local fb group or similar to raise the cash?

 

[honetpot]

I have had two on Pracend, the most recent one has been on it over three years. Someone did a small study on how long they live after diagnosis, giving it, and my big question was how much was good management and how much was the drug therapy, as managing weight and diet which I think makes a huge difference.
Pergolide Study Shows Long-Term Improvement in PPID Horses – The Horse
The first pony that needed couldn't tolerate it, even a low dose, so rather than have a miserable pony she had a good summer on old pasture, it took the whole of the summer for her to have symptoms, and then I had her PTS.
The currant pony has just had his dose increased,to a whole tablet but has had no symptoms, I had problems getting his new prescription, so kept him on the lower dose until the new stock came. So if you really can not afford it, how well is he controlled, what were his levels like, and can you halve the dose, some hormone is better than none. If your grass is not growing, the season is in your favour for levels.

ACTH interpretation

Liphook Equine Hospital have produced the graph above based on thousands of ACTH tests to show the seasonal rise and fall of ACTH. Until recently it was suggested that 2 reference ranges should be...

www.thelaminitissite.org

 

[MurphysMinder]

I would ask your vet for advice. As others have said you could buy just 2 weeks worth online if you have a prescription, it's £1.08 per tablet from Viovet.

 

[rextherobber]

If you can't borrow tablets off anyone locally, could you ask your bank for a temporary overdraft/extension of your overdraft facility? or bite the bullet and get it from your vet, it will cost you a lot more, but you won't get the invoice til the end of the month?

 

[claracanter]

My horse was on 1 prascend a day for about about 7 years and due to continuing low scores has dropped to 1/2 tablet a day for the last year . The vet advised that this can happen so your horse might go this way too after all. You say your horse is on 27, my vet says anything below 39 is within the normal range. If it’s only going to be for a few weeks, I would half his dose to make the tablets last if money is tight. Don’t let people in the forum make you feel bad

 

[splashgirl45]

OP is saying she was wanting to give the horse none for 2 weeks and those of us with experience of cushings have advised against it. Agree she might get away with a lower daily dose as you are suggesting but this isn’t what the OP was asking… you have been lucky so far with yours and I just hope the OP is lucky with hers but if someone asks a question on here they must be prepared that they won’t always get the answer they want

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't do it speak to your vet explain the situation I'm sure they would give you some until you can pay for it, even if you gave half a tablet for a few weeks it's better than nothing one of mine has half a tablet a day as he was borderline and his coat went weird last year.

I've had 2 with laminitis and I would do absolutely anything to not have another, beg steal borrow honestly it's not worth the risk.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My horse was on 1 prascend a day for about about 7 years and due to continuing low scores has dropped to 1/2 tablet a day for the last year . The vet advised that this can happen so your horse might go this way too after all. You say your horse is on 27, my vet says anything below 39 is within the normal range. If it’s only going to be for a few weeks, I would half his dose to make the tablets last if money is tight. Don’t let people in the forum make you feel bad

No one is making her feel bad it's just a series condition and the consequences of not treating it can be fatal so it's really important, no one wants a horse with laminitis ever it's horrible hence why talking to your vet is the best option I can't see them refusing to help.

 

[meleeka]

This question was posted on 23/2/23 so the OP has probably done what she feels is best by now, so probably no point in debating further.

 

[Tiddlypom]

This question was posted on 23/2/23 so the OP has probably done what she feels is best by now, so probably no point in debating further.

Not for the OP maybe, but the thread will remain and it is important to correct those who say that it doesn't matter to stop Prascend temporarily if you are a bit skint.

Untreated PPID is potentially life threatening for the horse.

 

[splashgirl45]

Agree Tiddlepom , I am very concerned that OP was going to do without for 2 weeks no matter what anyone said. I really hope her horse is ok , I know what it was like to be without money and credit cards up to the max but I would never have compromised my horses health and would have begged or borrowed money to get the tablets … as mine was on 4 prascend a day it crippled me financially and I admit to living off beans on toast and jacket potatoes for quite a while

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Agree Tiddlepom , I am very concerned that OP was going to do without for 2 weeks no matter what anyone said. I really hope her horse is ok , I know what it was like to be without money and credit cards up to the max but I would never have compromised my horses health and would have begged or borrowed money to get the tablets … as mine was on 4 prascend a day it crippled me financially and I admit to living off beans on toast and jacket potatoes for quite a while

I have lost 2 to laminitis and I won't loose another ever luckily I'm in a good financial situation, I would however always help someone out if I could rather than see a horse suffer.

Thats alot of money on drugs I can totally understand people struggling especially now everything is so expensive.

 

[splashgirl45]

I let my cushings mare go when she was 25 and her levels were still riding even on 4 prascend, my vet consulted with leahurst to see if they thought an increase to 5 was a good idea and they said no , her levels were rising so quickly it wouldn’t have made a difference , she was a bit pottery and vet said she was borderline laminitis , I could have kept her in to try and stop it but I decided quality of life was more important so she was buted until the last day and was out in the field with her friend until that morning . I know it was the right thing to do

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I let my cushings mare go when she was 25 and her levels were still riding even on 4 prascend, my vet consulted with leahurst to see if they thought an increase to 5 was a good idea and they said no , her levels were rising so quickly it wouldn’t have made a difference , she was a bit pottery and vet said she was borderline laminitis , I could have kept her in to try and stop it but I decided quality of life was more important so she was buted until the last day and was out in the field with her friend until that morning . I know it was the right thing to do

Sometimes you just can't do anymore and you had no choice unfortunately, my friends little arab was similar he was on 2 and got laminitis and she let him go vet said he didn't think increasing the dose would help

 

[shortstuff99]

My cushings mare staid stable on 1 1/2 tablets for about 10 years but one day the tumour that was causing it made her have a stroke/ataxia and it was quite distressing. I'm now very wary of how long to keep Cushing horses going. I don't think the seriousness of the disease is talked of enough, it seems to get dismissed a lot as an 'older horse' disease.