Primperan is a widely used drug in both human and veterinary medicine. In reality, it is a drug formulated for use in people, although there are currently analogous drugs that contain the same active ingredient, metoclopramide. Its various mechanisms of action give this compound different pharmacological effects, specifically antiemetic, prokinetic and galactogogue effects.
If you want to know more about primperan for dogs, its dosage and what it is used for, we recommend that you join us in the following article of our site, where we also tell you about its side effects and contraindications.
What is Primperan for dogs?
Primeran is the trade name of a drug whose active ingredient is metoclopramide In reality, primperan is a drug intended for your use in people, which is available as an oral solution, tablets and solution for injection. However, there are analogous drugs in veterinary medicine that also contain metoclopramide as an active ingredient.
Metoclopramide is a drug that presents various mechanisms of action, specifically:
- Antagonizes dopamine D2 receptors.
- Antagonizes 5-HT3 serotonergic receptors.
- It acts as an antagonist of 5-HT4 receptors, which causes it to have cholinergic effects on smooth muscle.
Its different mechanisms of action mean that metoclopramide does not have a single pharmacological effect, but several. Specifically, this active principle presents:
- Antiemetic effect: controls vomiting.
- Prokinetic effect: increases gastrointestinal motility.
- Galactogogue effect: stimulates milk production.
What is Primperan used for in dogs?
As we have already mentioned in the previous section, primperan is a drug that has an antiemetic, prokinetic and galactogogue effect, although in medicine Veterinary medicine is mainly used by the first two.
Antiemetic effect
Metoclopramide is a centrally acting antiemetic, which means that controls vomiting by acting directly on the vomiting center and the chemoreceptor trigger zone.
Its antiemetic effect is effective in controlling vomiting by:
- Acute digestive processes.
- Pancreatitis.
- Uraemia: increased blood urea levels).
- Endocrine diseases: such as Addison's disease or hypoadrenocorticism.
- Gestation.
- Drugs such as opiates, digitalis, theophylline or antitumor chemotherapy drugs.
- Vomiting of undetermined etiology.
In cases where vomiting causes dehydration of the animal, in addition to administering an antiemetic drug such as metoclopramide, it will be necessary to establish a fluid therapy planto restore your fluid and electrolyte balance.
Prokinetic effect
Metoclopramide acts at the level of the stomach and the first sections of the small intestine(duodenum and jejunum), favoring gastrointestinal motility. Specifically, it increases the tone and amplitude of gastric contractions, promotes relaxation of the pylorus (sphincter that connects the stomach with the small intestine) and stimulates peristalsis of the small intestine.
Its prokinetic effect is effective for the treatment of:
- Esophagitis
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Gastric atony
- Chronic gastritis
- Pyloric Spasm
- Ileus
Dose of Primperan for Dogs
The dose of primperan for dogs is the same regardless of whether it is administered orally, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly.
Specifically, the dose should be 0.5-1 mg of metoclopramide per kg of weight per day. This dose should be divided into 2 or 3 administrations a day, depending on what the veterinarian who prescribes the medication considers appropriate.
Primperan overdose in dogs
Cases of intoxication by primperan in dogs are usually caused by accidental ingestion of the drug However, it can also be caused by a bad dosage of the drug, so it is important that you make sure that the dose you are administering is exactly the one prescribed by your veterinarian.
Most of the clinical signs seen after a primer overdose are extrapyramidal side effects (signs that appear when the area of the brain responsible of movement coordination, called the extrapyramidal system, is affected). These signs include:
- Agitation
- Ataxia (incoordination)
- Abnormal positions and/or movements
- Prostration
- Tremors
- Aggressiveness
- Vocalizations
Since there is no specific antidote against metoclopramide, the recommendation is to offer the animal a quiet environment until the extrapyramidal signs disappear. Since drug is rapidly metabolized and eliminated, these effects usually disappear quickly.
In any case, the best way to prevent a primer overdose is to keep the drug out of your furry friend's reach and, as we have already pointed out, making sure that you accurately administer the dose prescribed by your veterinarian.
Primeran Side Effects in Dogs
According to the primperan SmPC, adverse reactions associated with its administration in dogs are seen very rarely (less than 1 animal per 10,000). In addition, the observed effects are transient and disappear when treatment is stopped.
Specifically, the side effects that can be observed with the administration of primerran in dogs are:
- Extrapyramidal signs: such as agitation, ataxia (incoordination), abnormal positions and/or movements, prostration, tremors, aggressiveness and vocalizations.
- Drowsiness.
- Diarrhea.
- Allergic reactions.
- Hypertensive crisis in dogs with pheochromocytoma: adrenal gland tumor.
Contraindications of Primperan for dogs
Despite the fact that primerran is a fairly safe drug , there are certain pathological situations in which its use is counterproductive. Specifically, the contraindications of primerran for dogs are as follows:
- Allergy or hypersensitivity to metoclopramide or to any of the excipientsthat accompany the active ingredient.
- Infection or gastrointestinal toxicity: since in these cases antiemetics can limit the expulsion of the infectious or toxic agent.
- Obstruction or suspicion of gastric or intestinal obstruction: since the stomach or intestine may rupture. Find out more about intestinal obstruction in dogs, its symptoms and treatment in this article on our site that we recommend.
- Gastrointestinal perforation.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Seizure disorders (epilepsy) or head injuries.
- Bitches with pseudopregnancy.
Although no teratogenic or toxic effects on the fetus have been demonstrated in experimental animals, there are no studies that support its safety in pregnant or lactating bitches. Therefore, it is recommended to use this drug with caution during pregnancy and/or lactation, previously carrying out a correct risk/benefit assessment.
