Using Ventipulmin?

[ScarlettLady]

Just wondered if you've used it, what results were seen and what side effects?
My boy seems to be sweating a little bit more, but have heard that this is common... only been on it since yesterday afternoon

Thanks!
Becky

 

[jodie3]

My cob had several courses of Ventipulmin and I never noticed any difference in him apart from not coughing anymore!

Hope your boy gets on ok.

 

[ImogenBurrows]

Just wondered if you've used it, what results were seen and what side effects?
My boy seems to be sweating a little bit more, but have heard that this is common... only been on it since yesterday afternoon

Thanks!
Becky

The sweating is a common side effect as the receptors it affects to dilate the airways also affect sweat glands, so when using higher dose rates you will see sweating at the same time. this can be stopped by reducing the dose by half a scoop each dose and should still have a good effect on the bronchodilation for the respiratory disease.

It is much more commonly seen following intravenous administration. Don't worry, it is temporary and will resolve rapidly.

Hope that helps,
Imogen

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Imogen - thanks a million!!!!!! Said it before, say it again, this Forum is fabulous for information. My horse Sunny has a serious pollen allergy and (unsurprisingly) it leaves him a little bit worse every year. He was on oral ventipulmin last summer and I didn't notice any adverse reaction. Have to say I don't think it helped much - he stopped coughing only after the last pollen grains had ended + 6 weeks. This summer he was started again on oral ventipulmin but it wasn't helping so he's now on inhaled ventipulmin - 10 puffs, 10 mins before the inhaled steroid. The plan is to keep him on this all winter so that his lungs are in the best possible health for the start of next summer. Are there any problematic side effects if a horse is on ventipulmin permanently?

 

[GreedyGuts]

The major problem with using ventipulmin long term, aside from the fact that it is v expensive, is that horses cease to respond to it.

If your horse is having an inhaled bronchiodilator then is it clenbuterol (the drug in ventipulmin) or salbutamol, which is much more common? In theory there are no probs with using it long term, however generally it is used at the onset of treatment to help open the airways so the steroids are well distributed within the lungs. Usually as the steroids gain effect and lung function improves the use of a bronchiodilator is no longer necessary or beneficial, so keeping him on steroids alone should be sufficient.

 

[ImogenBurrows]

Are there any problematic side effects if a horse is on ventipulmin permanently?

Not to my knowledge although they can build up a sort of tolerance! TBH if you have an ongoing problem then you have little choice as breathing is more important!!

Inhaled medication is bets for long term management IMO as it's inhaled, gets to the site of action straight away and then is exhaled with minimal systemic absorption, so is much better for your horse anyway. Often it's more efficacious than oral drugs because of that too...

Failure for treatment is generally because owner's don't leave a long enough gap between "puffs" to allow the horse in inhale; the horse moves too much to get good administration of the drugs or there are mucus plugs in the airways stopping the drugs getting there.
Hope that helps,
Imogen

 

[brucea]

I have a wheezy pony that we used ventipulmin on and to be honest it didn't really do very much for him - the COPD was better managed by soaking hay, changing environment and using Ventolin in an EquiHaler when he really needed it.

He always seemed a bit depressed and unresposnive on Ventipulmin

 

[ScarlettLady]

My problem is the poor boy's respiratory problem is triggered by turnout, so kind of hoping the ventipulmin will control it so he can have some turnout :-(
Still early days though, so we'll see what happens.
he seems to be gaining weight, guessing this is a possible side effect?
thanks so much for help so far!

becky x

 

[ImogenBurrows]

he seems to be gaining weight, guessing this is a possible side effect?

becky x

No sorry, it's not. more likely that he's getting more calories because you're feeding him to get ventipulmin in and he's bored so eating more.... Keep a close eye on things - try switching to ventolin inhalers as suggested and steroids are really the key to rapid and effective control!!