Totally non PMR request

[Bcol]

My Border Colie Meg, who as some of you know is very poorly. She is on 25mg of Pred a day and one of her other drugs, is Salazopyrin, which is also used for Crohns and RA, says I have to use gloves when using it, does anyone know why? She has to have 0.75 of a tablet three times a day so I have got a separate pill cutter for her.

[Temeraire]

I think its to avoid allergic reaction - which could be nasty. Also some drugs can be absorbed through the skin - don’t know if this one is though. Hope your poor dog gets better, its a heartbreaker I know.

[MrsNails]

Bcol, l’m sorry to hear how poorly Meg is - give her a hug from me.

Methotrexate Tablets are not to be handled because it can be absorbed through the skin so maybe this is the same especially as you have to cut them.

[Bcol in reply to MrsNails]

Thank you

[123-go]

Poor Meg and upsetting for you. We know how brilliant Pred is for us: hopefully it will work its magic on Meg asap. 🐶

[Bcol in reply to 123-go]

Thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Don’t know why, but best wishes to both of you 🌸

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you

[Lonsdalelass]

Ah, hope she gets better soon 🦴🌸

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It's a sulpha drug (sulphasalazine) and they can cause severe irritation in susceptible persons,

pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/co...

gives the full Monty on the details, Bit off-putting! The rheumy I saw before moving here was adamant I needed to start it for my symptoms which he was sure was NOT PMR but inflammatory arthritis. I declined as I had to have consultant supervision because of the potential adverse effects and I didn't have one here. They are happy to use that - but have a paddy about pred!

Hugs to you both.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for this pro, though having read your accompanying info - wow - that is really scary stuff and we thought the side effects of Pred were bad. Might need to get thicker gloves!!!

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

How surprising, my sister tried several drugs a few years ago for RA, but Sulphasalazine has been really good for her, she is on a low dose. I won' t be telling her what I just read!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Is she told to use gloves or at least not to handle it?

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

No, one tablet a day. Do you think I should tell her to?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Maybe the tablets are coated?

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I think so but I will double check that! Thank You

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Told my sister, she was very surprised, she takes 4 a day, told her to read the warnings on the sheet with the tablets, nothing about protection etc, I'm wondering if they are the same drug, seems odd. She has been on them for 4 years...mystery....

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Not mentioned here

1mg.com/drugs/salazopyrin-5...

A mystery indeed!

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

I wonder if the veterinary ones are different in some way?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

Apparently some tablets for vet use are different in the bulking agents - pills often need to be bigger to get it down an animal. Doses are obviously not always the same. but often they are the same.

Did you ask the vet?

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

If it's a mystery to you well, I'm clueless.....strange...

[Pixix]

Hugs, that’s very sad. Hope she improves!

[Bcol in reply to Pixix]

Thank you

[Bcol]

Thank you all for your comments and thoughts. Yes, definitely not something to be touched - if you want a scary read have a look at the article PMRpro attached to his answer, makes Pred look totally benign!!!! Sadly as far as Meg is concerned we are at the palliative time of her life and while we can keep her out of pain, comfortable and happy we will continue to do so. If I'm honest we didn't expect to get to 2023 so all the time now is a bonus.

[borednow]

Sending very gentle cuddles to Meg.

[Bcol in reply to borednow]

Thank you.

[PMRnewbie2017]

So sorry to read about Meg. I lost Jet a few weeks ago and what struck me was the size of the doses used in Vet medicine. My boy was on a bit of a cocktail before the end and as a Pharmacist (rtd) i was surprised how much a 27kg Labrador was given.

[Bcol in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

I agree, it is surprising.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

In human palliative care they use a lot more ...

[DogAgilityObsessed]

Sorry to hear about Meg. I do hope she is feeling better soon.

[Bcol in reply to DogAgilityObsessed]

Thank you, she is doing OK, but sadly, getting better is not an option unless you believe in miracles.