Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Baggy on January 26, 2009, 21:03:07 PM

Title: Wrong steroid - old pill given by mistake
Post by: Baggy on January 26, 2009, 21:03:07 PM

Does anyone know about the shelf life of steroids?  :-[

Stupid me has just given Dinah a 2 year old prednisolone instead of her new medrone.  I'm sure one pred won't hurt (it might even do her some good!) but am worried about expiry dates, does anyone know?  I could ring the emergency vet but don't think it's really an emergency?

Title: Re: Wrong steroid - old pill given by mistake
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on January 26, 2009, 21:13:09 PM

Found the COA ... I think this is the right one ... looks like the shelf life is 3 years assuming correct storage.

http://www.savan.co.uk/coa-specs-pdf/COA-SPEC_Prednisolone_sodium_phosphate.pdf

Title: Re: Wrong steroid - old pill given by mistake
Post by: Mark on January 26, 2009, 21:16:05 PM

I was trying to find info but no luck. All I could find is that it shouldn't be given to cats with hepatic failure. They should be given prednisolone instead (the liver converts prednisone to prednisolone)

Title: Re: Wrong steroid - old pill given by mistake
Post by: Baggy on January 26, 2009, 21:25:27 PM

Thanks both - assuming they were new when they were dispensed they should be ok then, they have been kept cool and in the dark.

Just found something else that said steroids aren't toxic but lose their effectivity after sell by date.

I feel so stupid - they don't even look similar. The prednisolone have gone in the bin now.

Title: Re: Wrong steroid - old pill given by mistake
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on January 26, 2009, 21:29:19 PM

I would flush em down the loo, its safer  ;D

Title: Re: Wrong steroid - old pill given by mistake
Post by: Wibblechick on January 27, 2009, 15:26:04 PM

Dont put drugs down the loo - they go back into the water system - take old human medication to a pharmacist at the chemist to dispose of safely.  Take old pet pills back to the vets.  Sorry for "Going off on one" - I had to unbung a shared drain a few days ago and found it was because someone had flushed pills - and some still in the foil ..... :doh: