Pain-killer or Killer
I received an e-mail from Ward Seven Alderman and Somerville dog owner, Robert Trane, about Deramaxx, a pain reliever which veterinarians continue to prescribe for dogs even though a similar human painkiller, Vioxx, was taken off the market in 2004 in response to reports of illness and death linked to the drug.
According to an article that ran yesterday the Washington Post, "Vioxx Debate Echoed in Battle Over Dog Drugs," by Marc Kaufman, "more than 350 reports of deaths linked to Deramaxx have come into the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine." Deramaxx is the brand name of Deracoxib, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
David Stansfield, director of professional relations for Novartis Animal Health, the maker of Deramaxx, says that the company advises "veterinarians not only to inform pet owners of possible side effects . . . but also to conduct blood and sometimes urine tests before the drug is prescribed. Those tests can be expensive, however, and are not routinely done."
The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes efforts to require vets to give out the drugmakers' information because "it's just not the be-all and end-all of the communication that's needed," according to Elizabeth Curry-Galvin, interim director of the AVMA scientific activities division, quoted in the Post.
A miracle drug for one individual may be dangerous or deadly for another. Ask your veterinarian for the consumer information provided by the drug manufacturer and to discuss with you the risks an benefits of the treatment prescribed for your pet.
UPDATE 14 May 2006: In the som|dog "Dog Talk" forum, a member shared another article about Deramaxx that ran a little over a year ago in USA Today, "Even painkillers for dogs have serious risks," by Julie Schmit.