Continue Reglan?

[MimzMum]

So my vet is out on the Yukon Quest (sled dog race) and I didn’t get a call back from the vet taking her place, so I’m just curious for tonight…(I’ll try to get hold of someone again tomorrow)

Mimzy is eating better and eliminating more normally. Should I continue his Reglan doses, or start to taper them off?

I’m thinking if it’s okay to do so, we’ll just keep them going twice a day (0.7ml) until he’s off the oral antibiotics…about 3 days left.

[BinkyBunny]

If Mimz is back to normal appetite and poo-wise then I think it would be okay to start tapering off. Obviously, if you see a slowdown with his appetite and/or litterbox habits, then back on he goes until you can talk to the vet.

On the OTHERHAND: The only thing I would be worried about in Mimz case he seems to have a very sensitive digestive system, (with the somewhat rollercoaster ride of a tight stomach) and so since he has three more days with anti-biotics, why not just continue… Doesn’t seem to hurt.

So there you have it….a definite answer…..One for yes, and one for no.

Really, it’s more about how you think Mimzy does on the meds and how his digestive system normally reacts to antibiotics/meds (he had to deal with them long enough)

Otherwise, if you are still not sure, then just keep offering the Reglan until you get hold of the vet.

[jerseygirl]

I was thinking taper off so you have some doses left incase you have to get him on it again. Beats having to trek into town to get more. I don’t know much about motility drugs – do you have to taper off with this & generally all meds?

[BinkyBunny]

jersey – you don’t have to taper off with motility drugs — or at least my vet never gave instructions that way. She just told me use it when you need it, and if a bunny is back to eating and pooing normally, then you can stop.

[RabbitPam]

“On the OTHERHAND: The only thing I would be worried about in Mimz case he seems to have a very sensitive digestive system, (with the somewhat rollercoaster ride of a tight stomach) and so since he has three more days with anti-biotics, why not just continue… Doesn’t seem to hurt.”

I’d go with Tevya’s, uh BB’s, second option.

I think the only tapering off are the woods as he’s coming out of them.

[MimzMum]

Vet called today and suggested we continue the Reglan until 3 days after we quit the oral antibiotics. At that time we’ll take him down to one dose per day.
I was sure I’d read somewhere that Reglan had to be stopped gradually, but whether that’s true or not, the doc wants us to keep him on it for now.
Does anyone know if there’s any long term effects from taking this drug over time?

[RabbitPam]

Yes, it leads to insanity in your friends due to second and third guessing the vet’s orders.

Mimzy, however, will be fine. Possibly when he’s 22 his nose will fall off.

[Sarita]

I don’t really understand the tapering off deal…you take it as instructed.

[KatnipCrzy]

I have not heard of Reglan needing to be tapered off of.  Steroids- like Pred- yes.  But not gut drugs- Reglan is for gut motility and even if he did not need it and you gave it for another couple of days I can not see it being an issue.

It would only be a problem to give Reglan to a rabbit in an inapprop situation- if there is a blockage- and you give Reglan you are stimulating gut motility and there is no where for anything to move (not Mimzy’s situation at all).

So I would give it until directed otherwise by a vet.

[BinkyBunny]

I just realized….I spoke complete nonsense! Sorry guys, I just completely contradicted myself and added to the confusion.

In my first post I said”If Mimz is back to normal appetite and poo-wise then I think it would be okay to start tapering off.”

And then in my second post I replied to Jersey: You don’t have to taper off with motility drugs — or at least my vet never gave instructions that way. She just told me use it when you need it, and if a bunny is back to eating and pooing normally, then you can stop.”

What in the world? Sorry. I am thinking there are more than a few “fuzzy heads” in my household.

Anyway, I am glad you got an answer back from the vet that best suits Mimz situation! Continued healing vibes!

As far as what I have read just net searching, tapering off had been suggested in some cases, but that just has never been the advice given by my rabbit-savvy vet and there has never been a problem.  So I ditto following your vets advice.

 

EDITED TO ADD:   I also do not know about long-term use of Reglan. But this is just a paragraph regarding it (and long term use) in Dana Krempels GI Stasis article. 

“….such as cisapride (Propulsid) or metoclopramide (Reglan) will help get a static intestine moving again. Both of the aforementioned drugs are safe and effective for rabbits. Cisapride, a more recently developed drug, has fewer potential nervous system side effects with long term use than Reglan. We have used it long term (for several weeks at a time) without apparent adverse side effects. However, as with any drug, your veterinarian should be aware of any potential drug interactions between cisapride/metaclopramide and any other medications your rabbit may be taking. For example, narcotic painkillers should never be given with Reglan due to the potential for dangerous interaction between the two.”

 

 It hasn’t been a few weeks yet, and you’ll be stopping soon, so I think you can rest easy.

 

 

 

[MimzMum]

Thank you Jen. Yes, I think that was one of the ones I had read, maybe I misinterpreted it.
I’m sorry if I’ve had everyone running around like headless chickens looking for material on this. I wasn’t trying to second guess my vet, I had just wanted some outside opinions.
After all, you all have had much more experience with bunnies than myself…so I think of you as experts in your own right.
Yeah, I think all of us will be glad when Mimzy’s finally of all his meds…lol. None of us more than Himself.

[BinkyBunny]

Well, I sure wasn’t an expert about some of this stuff before, but I’m starting to be now. LOL

No worries Mimz – We love you.

[RabbitPam]

Sammy says Ditto.

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