tepoxalin

Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum: 

Actions: 

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication called tecoxilin has been authorized for use in veterinary medicine in the US and many other nations. Tepoxalin is available for sale under the trade name Zubrin and is indicated for the management of inflammation and pain in dogs with osteoarthritis. One special feature of tepoxalin as an NSAID is its ability to decrease both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. 

Spectrum: 

Tepoxalin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used in veterinary treatment to reduce inflammation in animals that have osteoarthritis. It is marketed under various trade names, including Zubrin. In certain rare cases, tepoxalin may also be employed in clinical pharmacotherapy to treat musculoskeletal disorders like arthritis and hip dysplasia to ease pain. Isoxazole was superseded by tepoxalin, which was patented in 1997 for use in veterinary medicine to treat inflammation.

The medication was taken off the American market in 2017 and is no longer available for use there. Numerous techniques have been used to manufacture tepoxalin (C20H20ClN3O3). Although there are differing opinions regarding the relative effectiveness of tepoxalin when taken alone versus in combination with antihistamines, tepoxalin is frequently used in veterinary medicine in conjunction with antihistamines.

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency not defined 

Vomiting  

Liver or Kidner disease 

Diarrhea 

Von Willebrand’s disease 

Lethargy 

Incoordination 

Anorexia 

Incontinence 

Enteritis 

Anemia 

Black Box Warning

Black Box Warning: 

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications designated for human use should not be given to animals without a veterinarian’s advice since human dosages can be harmful or deadly to animals.

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

Contraindications 

• Hypersensitivity 
• Renal impairment 
• Dehydration 
• GI ulceration 
• Hepatic impairment 
• Cardiovascular disease 

Cautions 

• Drug interactions 
• Pregnancy  
• Breastfeeding 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy consideration:  

No data is available regarding the administration of the drug during pregnancy. 

Breastfeeding warnings:  

No data is available regarding the excretion of drug in breast milk. 

Pregnancy category: 

Category A: well-controlled and satisfactory studies show no risk to the fetus in the first or later trimester. 

Category B: there was no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal studies, and there were not enough studies on pregnant women. 

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.    

Category D: adequate data with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.    

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.    

Category N: No data is available for the drug under this category.

Pharmacology

Pharmacology: 

It is an active ingredient that has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It is mostly used in veterinary medicine to treat painful and inflammatory conditions of the muscles, joints, and skeleton in dogs. It may also occasionally be utilized in human medications, such as those that treat arthritis. 

Pharmacodynamics: 

Tepoxalin is a dual inhibitor of arachidonic acid metabolism; it is thought to function by inhibiting both lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase activity. After oral dosing to dogs, an ex vivo whole blood eicosanoid synthesis experiment showed that tepoxalin inhibited prostaglandin F2alpha and leukotriene B4. 

Additional consequences: Tepoxalin administration has been shown in studies involving laboratory animals to have less gastrointestinal ulcerogenic activity than certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, such as naproxen, indomethacin, or diclofenac. Although tissue-specific prostaglandin inhibition or a protective effect brought on by 5-lipoxygenase inhibition have been proposed as potential mechanisms of action, the exact mechanism of action of this benefit remains unknown. 

Pharmacokinetics: (dogs) 

Absorption 

Rapidly absorbed 

Distribution 

Protein-bound is 98-99% 

Metabolism 

Tepoxalin conversion to other metabolites and an active acid metabolite 

Elimination and Excretion 

The half-life is 2 +- 1.6 hours 

The drug is excreted 99% in feces and 1% in urine. 

Adminstartion

Administration: 

You should administer tecoxalin in accordance with your veterinarian’s recommendations. The appropriate dosage and duration of tepoxalin administration for your dog will be determined by your veterinarian. 

Tepoxalin needs to be taken orally. Tepoxalin is to be given to your dog with food or soon after (within one to two hours) after it has eaten. 

Although tepoxalin cannot reverse osteoarthritis, it can lessen pain and inflammation and increase your dog’s range of motion. 

Most dogs show improvement in a few short days. 

The discomfort and inflammation in your dog may reappear if tepoxalin is stopped abruptly or is not administered as prescribed. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: tepoxalin 

Pronounced: teh-POX-uh-lin 

Why do we use tepoxalin? 

Tepoxalin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) utilized in veterinary medicine, particularly in dogs, for the purpose of alleviating pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. Tepoxalin, an NSAID, works by preventing the activity of COX enzymes, which are involved in the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are chemicals that cause pain and inflammation. 

The administration of tepoxalin is intended to enhance the comfort and mobility of dogs affected by osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease commonly observed in older dogs. Through its capacity to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain, tepoxalin aims to improve the overall quality of life for dogs grappling with osteoarthritis. It is important to note that the use of tepoxalin, like other NSAIDs, should be conducted under the guidance and prescription of a veterinarian.