Flumethasone

Flumethasone is an injectable corticosteroid supplied in a 100 mL vial for use across several species — horses, cattle, dogs and cats. It is given by five different routes, which is unusual among corticosteroid preparations and is what makes it a general-purpose product rather than a specialist one.

Composition

Active substance: flumethasone, a fluorinated derivative of prednisolone. The fluorine substitutions raise its potency well above its parent molecule and slow its metabolism, so small volumes produce a strong and sustained effect. The concentration per millilitre is stated on the label.

Indications

Flumethasone is used for:

• inflammatory conditions of the skeletal muscular system;
• inflammation accompanying infection — only in combination with an appropriate antibiotic, never alone;
• metabolic disorders with low circulating glucose, including ketosis, where its gluconeogenic effect is the point of treatment;
• stress and shock states, where energy demand outstrips supply.

Routes of administration

Intramuscular, intravenous, intra-articular, intralesional and subcutaneous. The dose differs sharply by species — the quantity appropriate for a horse is many times that for a cat — so dose by the label and by body weight, never by eye or by analogy with another animal in the yard.

How it works

Glucocorticoids suppress inflammation before the painful stage, reducing the migration of inflammatory cells into tissue, the release of inflammatory mediators and capillary permeability. Separately, they promote gluconeogenesis — the manufacture of glucose from protein and fat — which is why this product has a role in ketosis and in shock, and equally why it interferes with glucose and insulin regulation in a healthy animal.

Presentation and storage

Sterile injectable solution, 100 mL vial. Store in the original carton, protected from light, at the temperature given on the label. Do not freeze. Disinfect the stopper before each withdrawal and use a sterile needle and syringe. Keep out of reach of children.

Important

Where inflammation accompanies infection, a corticosteroid given without effective antimicrobial cover suppresses the signs while the infection advances. Flumethasone raises laminitis risk in susceptible horses and ponies, affects glucose and insulin regulation, and should not be used in late pregnancy. Prolonged courses suppress the adrenal output of the treated animal and must be tapered rather than stopped abruptly. Do not combine with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory without veterinary direction. Dose, route and duration are set by the attending veterinarian for the individual animal and species. Corticosteroids are controlled medications under racing and competition rules and carry detection times. Withdrawal periods apply to animals destined for food production. This page is product information, not veterinary advice.