Old Bup--still good?

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Marci and Buddy

Marci and Buddy

Member Since 2009
Buddy has P-titis, on Buprenex. I have some left over from 1.5 years ago in syringe ready to go...any idea if it is
OK to use, that stuff is so expensive, I think vet charges almost $5 per shot! Is there another way to get it?thanks.
 
You might ask a pharmacy if what it breaks down into is toxic. If the answer is no, you can use it.

Can you get an Rx filled at a pharmacy, or does it have to go through the vet?
 
Please let us know the answers you get, as I have some bupe stored for just in case, of varying ages.
 
Buprenex must be stored in glass. My vet told me it degrades after about a week when stored in a syringe and should be discarded. I get it much cheaper from a pharmacy but it's not something they usually keep in stock and has to be ordered. Think it was around $50-something last time for a box of five 1ml ampules. The glass ampules have to snapped, then the liquid drawn out with an 18 g needle and placed into something else. My vet gave me a blood collection tube but frankly it was a pain, and an insulin needle wouldn't go through the thick rubber stopper, so I bought sterile 2 ml vials to store it in.
 
Hi Marci,

Also to add to what Deborah wrote, the Buprenex should be stored in a dark, cool place. Not in the bathroom or not in the fridge either.

My vet wrote a script for it, for the five ampules. Mine were 67 dollars the last I had the script filled at Rite Aid.

You can look on youtube and watch video's on how people get the meds out of the glass ampules.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMrJ4MKpHRw The first time I got them, I was really nervous, but finally got the hang of it.

When I get the amount I need in the syringe (the no needle one to give to the cat), I put it in the side of the gums. Then if you draw back after having given the Bupe (nickname for Buprenex) you will notice a tiny bit, sometimes .02 ml's still in the syringe. I draw that back, wipe off the top of the syringe, and take a piece of tape and put it over the opening, and seal it, for the next round. No wanting to waste any of that expensive stuff!

Hope you can get some buprenex cheaper from the drugstore, with a script, but if not, just make sure to have it on hand. I had to pay about 27 dollars for a small vial of 1.5 ml's of the stuff a week ago at the vet's. They really mark that stuff up.

Best wishes,
Jean and Charcoal (GA)
 
Thanks jean, good info here. I get the Bupe already in the syringe from the vet. it's costly but Buddy is now on 7 or 8 meds
and i just cant keep up.Anyway , I am hoping that he will not be on Bupe any more. it's very hard to tell if he needs it, if he is in pain.
he is staying to himself in the other room, which he doesn't really do, and he is eating very little, guess those are signs of pain?
I think the Bupe is making him constipated, so i'm not sure how to measure what to do with him-give Bupe or not? any suggestions ?
thanks again.
 
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