Helmonil (Levamisole) discussions

Swarupmay Majumdar Just treating an emergency case of Helmonil-c acute toxicity. A female GSD (27kg) of 6 years been dewormed by her owner( a breeder) using 9ml of Helmonil-c s/c. dog is breathing heavily, choking, temp-103.4*f. injected at 7.30 yesterday night. been showing sysmptoms from 11 pm onwards. No antidote for Helmonil-c. safe dose 1ml/30kg sc. I have put the dog on IV drips , rantac, meloxicam and terbutalin orally. the owner already injected Dexamethasone at 3Am, any suggestions?

10 June at 04:34 · Comment · · Flag

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    Gautam Unny dont use it anymore swarup, but isnt the dose correct,i remember it as 1ml/3kg?/ then 9*3 = 27kg right

    10 June at 06:59 ·
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    Gautam Unny dr ravi i said 1ml/3kg not 1ml/30kg

    10 June at 08:27 ·
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    Saurabh Saxena dr unny is right ..pls check
    http://www.poulvet.com/vetproducts/medicine_detail.php?mediid=151

    10 June at 09:20 ·
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    Saurabh Saxena if both drug dose and route is correct.which is indeed ..what is causing the problem?? need to go for cbc ,this might be an adverse reaction but no toxicity as such??

    10 June at 09:24 ·
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    Swarupmay Majumdar

    It is a case of acute neuro toxicity and the dose is 1ml/30kg only. the vial says 1ml/3kg. which is not matching with the comapnys website. I use levamisole in many skin conditions at 1 ml/30kg sc. It has been safe.
    
    Here the owner himself beinga breeder injected the helmonic -c yesterday night and the dog had been through all the above symptoms.

    10 June at 11:32 ·
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    Swarupmay Majumdar

    extraxts from plums veterinary pharmacology: levamisole half live Dogs 1.8-4 hours,
    Adverse effects that may be seen in dogs include GI disturbances (usually vomiting, diarrhea), neurotoxicity (panting, shaking, agitation or other behavioral changes), agranulocytosis, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, immune-mediated skin eruptions (erythroedema, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis) and lethargy.

    10 June at 11:48 ·
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    Swarupmay Majumdar

    Symptoms of levamisole toxicity often mimic those of organophosphate toxicity. Symptoms may include hypersalivation, hyperesthesias and irritability, clonic seizures, CNS depression, dyspnea, defecation, urination, and collapse. These effects are best treated by supportive means, as animals generally recover within hours of dosing. Acute levamisole overdosage can result in death due to respiratory failure. Should respiratory failure occur, artificial ventilation with oxygen should be instituted until recovery occurs. Cardiac arrhythmias may also be seen. If the ingestion was oral, emptying the gut and/or administering charcoal with cathartics may be indicated.
    Levamisole is considered to be more dangerous when administered parenterally than when given orally or topically. Intravenous administration is particularly hazardous, and is never recommended.
    

    10 June at 11:49 ·
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    Swarupmay Majumdar

    Doses
    Dogs
    As an immune stimulant:
    1. For recurrent cutaneus infections: 2.2 mg/kg PO every other day, with appropriate antimicrobial therapy (Rosenkrantz 1989)
    2. 0.5-2 mg/kg PO 3 times a week (Kirk 1989)
    3. For adjunctive therapy in dogs with chronic pyoderma: 0.5-1.5 mg/kg PO 2-3 times a week (efficacy not established) (Lorenz 1984)
    4. For adjunctive therapy in dogs with chronic pyoderma: 2.2 mg/kg PO every other day (may only be efficacious in 10% of cases) (Ihrke 1986)
    5. For adjunctive therapy in aspergillosis/penicillinosis: 2-5 mg/kg PO every other day (Prueter 1988)
    As an alternative treatment for SLE:
    1. 3-7 mg/kg PO every other day for 4 months; alone or in combination with corticosteroids (Marks and Henry 2000)
    As a microfilaricide:
    1. 10 mg/kg PO once a day for 6-10 days (Kirk 1989)
    2. 11 mg/kg PO for 6-12 days. Examine blood on 6th day of treatment; discontinue therapy when microfilaria negative. May cause neurologic signs, vomiting, behavioral changes, or possibly death. If treatment is prolonged (>15 days), there is increased likelihood of toxicity. (Todd, Paul, and DiPietro 1985)
    3. If dithiazanine is ineffective: 11 mg/kg PO after a small meal for 7 days. Examine blood, and if microfilaria still are present, may continue for another 5 days. (Kittleson 1985)
    4. 11 mg/kg PO for 6-12 days. Examine for microfilaria within 7-10 days and at weekly intervals until eliminated or treatment is halted. Retching and vomiting are common. Avoid giving on an empty stomach or immediately after drinking water. A "conditioning" dose of 5 mg/kg PO once a day may be necessary. Stop therapy if abnormal behavior or ataxia develops. (Knight 1988)
    For the treatment of lungworms:
    1. For Crenosoma vulpis: 8 mg/kg once (Todd, Paul, and DiPietro 1985)
    2. For Capillaria: 7-12 mg/kg once daily PO for 3-7 days
    For Filaroides osleri: 7-12 mg/kg once daily PO for 20-45 days (Roudebush 1985)
    3. 7.5 mg/kg PO bid or 25 mg/kg PO every other day for 10 days (Bauer 1988)
    4. For Capillaria aerophilia: 10 mg/kg PO once daily for 5 days; repeat in 9 days (Reinemeyer 1995)
    

    10 June at 11:50 ·
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    Sumit Virmani Dr. Swarup, how is the dog now??
    What line of Rx did you follow?

    12 June at 10:59 ·
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    Swarupmay Majumdar he is fine after 4 hrs.We got it in the evening, he had no problems.

    12 June at 11:22 ·
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    Sumit Virmani Good :)

    12 June at 13:02 ·