Medicine Section

PSEUDOEPHEDRINE

1. What is it? and What does it cause?
• Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug structurally similar to amphetamines and is present in most of the cold medications.
• Clinical signs
• Ingestion can lead to dose-dependent stimulation of the cardiovascular system and the CNS.
• Signs include
• Agitation
• Hyperactivity
• Panting
• Hyperthermia
• Hypertension
• Tachycardia
• head bobbing, or mydriasis.
• Ingesting as little as 10 to 12 mg/kg  pseudoephedrine can cause life-threatening signs.
2. How will you manage?
• gastric decontamination in asymptomatic animals
• patient monitoring, and symptomatic care.
• Acepromazine is used to control agitation and hyperactivity (Since diazepam may aggravate the agitation avoid it)
• Phenobarbital to control severe tremors and seizures
• Fluid therapy enhances excretion of pseudoephedrine
• Hypertension is likely hence avoid exceed fluid rates of one and a half to two times the maintenance rate unless the dog is in shock or dehydrated.
• Tachycardia - use beta-blockers, such as propranolol