Previcox

[irishdraft]

My vet has prescribed my mare Previcox for pain relief, I haven't heard of it before and apparently licensed for dogs but can be used for horses, I've looked it up and see it's the same as equicoxx but quite a lot cheaper, so I'm assuming that's why they have prescribed it. Does anyone give this to their horse and what amount please, I've slightly scared myself reading the information sheet .

 

[spotty_pony2]

My vet has prescribed my mare Previcox for pain relief, I haven't heard of it before and apparently licensed for dogs but can be used for horses, I've looked it up and see it's the same as equicoxx but quite a lot cheaper, so I'm assuming that's why they have prescribed it. Does anyone give this to their horse and what amount please, I've slightly scared myself reading the information sheet .

I’m pretty sure it’s the same drug form what my Vet was saying? My boy might be moving onto it from Danilon - Vet was saying he would only need one small tablet - same dose as a dog has but it are apparently goes straight to the source of inflammation.

 

[Gamebird]

Although some vets are obviously prescribing it, it is actually not legal to do so in the UK. Where a licensed alternative exists (as you have mentioned, Equioxx is a form of firocoxib which is licensed for horses in the UK) vets are legally bound to use the licensed form.

 

[Fire sign]

Mine had Previcox first and then moved on to Equiox .. am pretty sure they are the same thing .. she has 1/4 tablet but isn’t a big horse … I think you can give up to a whole tablet a day . I smuggle it into a piece of apple

 

[Jambarissa]

Yes we had previcox then forced onto the more expensive eqicox when it became available.

As a medicine it was a game changer for many years, old retired mare moved so much better that even her top line developed.

 

[Highmileagecob]

They are exactly the same drug, made by the same company, but different packaging and pricing. My vet prescribes Previcox, and Old Dobbin has taken it for over ten years with no ill effects. One tablet is broken into four, giving four day's dosage.

 

[irishdraft]

Thank you for replies, my horse is 16.2hh ID not a heavy type, she has been prescribed 3 tablets first day, 2 the next and then 1 a day. I gave her the 3 yesterday then panicked from reading the info sheet for dogs and also info regarding equicoxx but anyway she seems absolutely fine today so I'll see if the previcox makes any difference to her over the next few weeks.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Average dose is roughly 10mg per 100kg bodyweight, if that helps.

 

[tankgirl1]

My mare has been on it for years with no ill effects, at first she was on previcox (1/4 large dog tablet daily) and then moved over to equioxx when it came out

 

[lynz88]

Very standard to give Previcox to horses in Canada (at least where I was in Ontario)

 

[SEL]

I've used it before - worked well.

My friend's pragmatic vet is still prescribing the dog tablets as the price difference is so big.

 

[Irishcob6]

my horse used to be prescribed Previcox before unfortunately we had to change to the more expensive Equioxx version. He’s on 2 tablets a day, has been for a few years and is fine! Do I think it makes a difference, not sure and it’s not a miracle drug as he can still show stiffness and mild lameness etc on the odd occasion.

 

[Gamebird]

I've used it before - worked well.

My friend's pragmatic vet is still prescribing the dog tablets as the price difference is so big.

I'm about as pragmatic as they come, but sadly draw the line at breaking the law to save other people money, much as I would like to.

 

[SEL]

I'm about as pragmatic as they come, but sadly draw the line at breaking the law to save other people money, much as I would like to.

Not aimed at you but this is where the governing bodies do themselves no favours - if a drug is effective & safe then there's no need to make an "equine" version at additional cost & tell vets they MUST prescribe that instead. Drug costs are significant part of the complaints that fed into the small animal practitioners review and it's not like we don't use plenty of drugs off licence for horses (currently looking at piriton & steglatro)

 

[spike123]

it worked wonders for my old boy with stifle arthritis. Kept him comfortable. I'd use it again. Apparently it's not allowed to be prescribed in the UK without good reason ie horse won't eat the equioxx paste.

 

[ester]

Not aimed at you but this is where the governing bodies do themselves no favours - if a drug is effective & safe then there's no need to make an "equine" version at additional cost & tell vets they MUST prescribe that instead. Drug costs are significant part of the complaints that fed into the small animal practitioners review and it's not like we don't use plenty of drugs off licence for horses (currently looking at piriton & steglatro)

the additional drug costs are usually representative of the pharma company having done the extra work required to get it approved in the new species though.

 

[rextherobber]

I used it for years on an elderly retired girl , it helped her enormously

 

[Gamebird]

the additional drug costs are usually representative of the pharma company having done the extra work required to get it approved in the new species though.

Exactly! No one actually knows whether it is 'effective and safe' to use in horses until the testing required as part of the licensing process has been done.
Obviously there were vets using firocoxib in horses prior to the equine -licensed version (I was one), but all we had to go on was personal experience in small numbers of cases. Not enough to be able to make any large conclusions about safety, or even realistically what the safest/most effective dose is. And given that the TOTAL dose for horses is less than that for a big dog, that's a very important point. Can you imagine if we just used the same mg/kg dose as we do in dogs - we'd be massively overdosing!

I for one would love to prescribe the cheaper Previcox, but only now that we have the dosing and safety information gained from Equioxx undergoing the licensing process.

 

[irishdraft]

I'm about as pragmatic as they come, but sadly draw the line at breaking the law to save other people money, much as I would like to.

Exactly! No one actually knows whether it is 'effective and safe' to use in horses until the testing required as part of the licensing process has been done.
Obviously there were vets using firocoxib in horses prior to the equine -licensed version (I was one), but all we had to go on was personal experience in small numbers of cases. Not enough to be able to make any large conclusions about safety, or even realistically what the safest/most effective dose is. And given that the TOTAL dose for horses is less than that for a big dog, that's a very important point. Can you imagine if we just used the same mg/kg dose as we do in dogs - we'd be massively overdosing!

I for one would love to prescribe the cheaper Previcox, but only now that we have the dosing and safety information gained from Equioxx undergoing the licensing process.

I would be very surprised & actually quite concerned that my well respected equine vets are breaking the law by prescribing my mare this drug. I haven't heard of it before & knew nothing about it hence my post. I was not offered Equicoxx and again have not heard of it, in light of your comments I am going to stop giving the tablet to her until I have spoken to my vets about this, I certainly do not want to put her at risk.

 

[Gamebird]

I would be very surprised & actually quite concerned that my well respected equine vets are breaking the law by prescribing my mare this drug. I haven't heard of it before & knew nothing about it hence my post. I was not offered Equicoxx and again have not heard of it, in light of your comments I am going to stop giving the tablet to her until I have spoken to my vets about this, I certainly do not want to put her at risk.

Rest assured, you're not putting her at risk in any way. It's exactly the same dose of exactly the same drug. However as equine vets (or indeed all vets!) the prescribing cascade dictates that where a licensed form of a drug exists for a species we are legally bound to use that licensed form. So Equioxx is the form of firocoxib licensed for horses, so we have to use that in horses. Previcox is the form of firocoxib licensed for dogs so we have to use that for dogs. It's really frustrating that it is so much cheaper, but we just don't have control over that.
There is absolutely no risk to your horse. The risk is to your vet if they get found out!

 

[quizzie]

Rest assured, you're not putting her at risk in any way. It's exactly the same dose of exactly the same drug. However as equine vets (or indeed all vets!) the prescribing cascade dictates that where a licensed form of a drug exists for a species we are legally bound to use that licensed form. So Equioxx is the form of firocoxib licensed for horses, so we have to use that in horses. Previcox is the form of firocoxib licensed for dogs so we have to use that for dogs. It's really frustrating that it is so much cheaper, but we just don't have control over that.
There is absolutely no risk to your horse. The risk is to your vet if they get found out!

It is possible that those people whose vets are prescribing previcox may have horses that fall outside the datasheet criteria for Equioxx, and therefore can legitimately offer previcox.?

Datasheet extract: For safe and effective use, this product should only be administered to horses in the weight range 450-600 kg. For horses weighing under 450 kg or over 600 kg, and where firocoxib is the treatment of choice, use of other firocoxib-containing formulations that allow for accurate dosing is advised.

 

[Dales]

That's interesting. My old pony has just been prescribed Previcox - 1/4 tablet a day. He weighs just under 430kg, so under the 450kg guidance.

 

[Gamebird]

It is possible that those people whose vets are prescribing previcox may have horses that fall outside the datasheet criteria for Equioxx, and therefore can legitimately offer previcox.?

Datasheet extract: For safe and effective use, this product should only be administered to horses in the weight range 450-600 kg. For horses weighing under 450 kg or over 600 kg, and where firocoxib is the treatment of choice, use of other firocoxib-containing formulations that allow for accurate dosing is advised.

It is, and I'd forgotten that qualification. Our orthopaedic specialists are however happy with the accuracy of dosing below that threshold, but draw the line at small ponies.
Either way any client being prescribed either Previcox or Equioxx for anything under 450kg should be made very clear about both being off-licence (although the Equioxx is a grey area, as it's only 'advised'), and should have to sign a form to say they give fully informed consent.

 

[quizzie]

It is, and I'd forgotten that qualification. Our orthopaedic specialists are however happy with the accuracy of dosing below that threshold, but draw the line at small ponies.
Either way any client being prescribed either Previcox or Equioxx for anything under 450kg should be made very clear about both being off-licence (although the Equioxx is a grey area, as it's only 'advised'), and should have to sign a form to say they give fully informed consent.

I looked into it, having a 700kg horse myself...the opposite problem! Interestingly his gut can't tolerate full doses of any of the NSAIDs, but we have found that a minimal bute dosage plus Bosmerix seems to have a synergystic effect.