Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Use of stomach protectant drugs in hospitalized cats in 2018
By Ullal, Tarini V et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2023·Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of gastroprotectant administration in hospitalized cats in a tertiary referral hospital.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A review of medical records from a referral hospital found that many cats were given gastroprotectant medications, like proton pump inhibitors, without a clear reason. Out of 110 cats, 67 received these medications unnecessarily, often for issues like acute kidney injury. Even when the medications were appropriate, nearly half of the cases had incorrect dosages or poor instructions for pet owners on how to use them. This means that if your cat is prescribed a gastroprotectant, it’s important to ask your vet about the reasons for the medication and how to use it properly.
People also search for: cat gastroprotectant medication · why is my cat on omeprazole · cat kidney injury treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prescription patterns and appropriateness of the use of gastroprotectant medication in cats. METHODS: Pharmacy dispensation logs from an academic tertiary referral center were reviewed between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018. Cats that were administered proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), sucralfate, misoprostol, antacids or a combination were included. Data regarding medication, dosage, formulation, duration of administration, completeness of discharge instructions and clinical rationales for administration were obtained from medical records. The appropriateness of gastroprotectant use was assessed according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 110 cases, 67 (60.9%) were prescribed a gastroprotectant medication without an appropriate indication. The most common reason for prescription was acute kidney injury in 26/67 (38.8%). PPIs were the most common gastroprotectant medication administered in 95/110 (86.3%) cats, followed by sucralfate in 18/110 (16.4%) and H2RAs in 11/110 (10%). Of the 35 cases in which gastroprotectant therapy was indicated, the medication chosen or dosage administered was considered suboptimal in 16 (45.7%). Instructions regarding the duration of administration, potential adverse effects and timing of administration in relation to meals or other medications were inconsistently provided in discharge instructions to pet owners. Of the 29 cases discharged with omeprazole, only 13 (44.8%) instructions included a duration of administration, while 6 (20.7%) recommended continuing gastroprotectants indefinitely until further notice, 16 (55.2%) discussed the timing of the administration in relation to a meal and six (20.7%) mentioned potential adverse effects; none advised tapering of omeprazole before discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: When prescribed, gastroprotectant medications were frequently prescribed injudiciously to cats in this referral population over a 12-month period. Discharge instructions to pet owners also often lacked information and recommendations regarding optimal administration, potential adverse effects, and tapering or discontinuation of the medications.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37874311/