Prilosec approved for horses

[Kirsten Foruria <kirsten@vermilion.reno.nv.us>]

FDA OKs Ulcer Drug for Horses

.c The Associated Press

 By LAURAN NEERGAARD

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top-selling prescription drug for humans is now
going
to the farm: The government has approved the chemical in Prilosec to
treat
ulcers in horses.

New Jersey-based Merial Limited will sell the horse drug under the brand
name
GastroGard. It's made of omeprazole, the active ingredient in the
Prilosec
that humans use to treat their own ulcers. For horses, omeprazole is
mixed
into an oral paste.

Who knew horses got ulcers? Actually, the seriousness of equine stomach
ulcers
is a fairly recent discovery, and today's approval by the Food and Drug
Administration provides veterinarians with their first treatment.

Gastric ulcers are a common problem in foals and in horses in stressful
environments, particularly racehorses and other performance horses, the
FDA
said.

According to Merial, up to 1.8 million performance horses may have
ulcers. The
most noticeable symptoms are decreased appetite, colic, poor hair coat
and
poor body condition. In foals, symptoms also may include intermittent
nursing.

In humans, stress does not cause ulcers -- a bacterium called H. pylori
is the
main culprit. Also, certain medications such as aspirin can cause ulcers
by
eroding the stomach lining. Most human patients are treated with a
combination
of antibiotics to kill H. pylori and anti-acid drugs such as Prilosec
that
shut down gastric acid production so the stomach has time to heal.

But H. pylori hasn't been found in horses. Feeding practices, training
and
trailering, competing and even hospitalization seem to contribute to
ulcer
formation, Merial said.

Veterinarians tested GastroGard in 300 horses at 15 sites around the
country.
Used once a day for four weeks, it healed or reduced the severity of
ulcers in
99 percent of treated horses, Merial said.

The FDA approved its use in foals older than 4 weeks and adult horses,
by
prescription only from a licensed veterinarian. FDA warned there is no
proof
of the drug's safety in pregnant or lactating mares.

AP-NY-03-18-99 1116EST

 Copyright 1998 The Associated Press.  The information  contained in the
AP
news report may not be published,  broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
distributed without  prior written authority of The Associated Press.




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