Lucy has an infected foot.

August 20, 2011 11:09 AM

Help me follow the instructions on my dog's prescription.

The prescription: Prednisone 5mg (8 tablets).

The instructions: Give 1/2 tablet twice daily for 4 days, then 1/2 tablet once daily for 4 days, then 1/2 tablet every other day.

And, obviously: 8 tablets = 16 half tablets.

So, which of the following dosing schedules is correct, where each number represents the number of half tablets to give on a given day?

2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

- or -

2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

(If it matters, she was also given an antibiotic that is 1/2 tablet daily until finished.)

Thanks.

posted by jeffamaphone to Pets & Animals (8 answers total)

Call the vet back and ask to clarify, the vet gives instructions to the pharmacy to print on the label, so they will be able to tell you exactly how/when to give it.
posted by TheBones at 11:16 AM on August 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

If the vet's closed or you can't get an answer, call a (human) pharmacy and ask (I probably wouldn't mention that the med was for my dog, though, or they may balk at giving an answer). The reason for the taper schedule is the same in dogs as it is in humans - you want to prevent prednisone withdrawal, which can cause acute adrenal crisis.
posted by pecanpies at 11:20 AM on August 20, 2011

I'd probably go with the second, but I don't think it really matters. You're tapering the dose either way. My reasoning for the second is looking at each step in chunks - the first four days are 2's, the next four days are 1's and the last 4 days are alternating, 1-0-1-0.
posted by jenny76 at 11:36 AM on August 20, 2011

Best answer: I'd vote for the first because the second looks to me like 1/2 tablet twice daily for 4 days, then 1/2 tablet once daily for five days, then 1/2 tablet every other day.
posted by amf at 11:45 AM on August 20, 2011 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The first, for the reasons that amf gives.
#2 is half a tablet x5days.
posted by SLC Mom at 4:05 PM on August 20, 2011

It's okay to ask the people pharmacist about animal prescriptions. You won't be the first. I got one of my dog's regular meds at Target. The label said Firstname-Dog Lastname.

(The vet suggested I take the prescription there. It would've cost me maybe $30+ for a month's worth from the vet. Most pharmacies, $24. But the vet said it was on the $4 formulary at Walmart. A little Googling showed that it was also on Target's $4 formulary, so that's where I went.)
posted by bentley at 5:57 PM on August 20, 2011

When my dog was on Prednisone for his allergies last year, the first schedule you outlined was similar to my dosing schedule (except they added a cycle of every third day at the end). I asked the vet tech because I too was confused about the written instructions on the prescription.
posted by bCat at 8:52 PM on August 20, 2011

That's good to know, bentley! Thanks. I've gotten Rxs for dogs filled at "people" pharmacies, too, but I guess I thought they wouldn't be able to answer any questions about them.
posted by pecanpies at 6:06 AM on August 21, 2011