Comfortan

Re: Comfortan

Charlotte K — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 16:02:50 GMT

Thanks Susanna for your reply. We've only been using Comfortan the last month or so and used on 37 patients. We seemed to have a run of Springers that were not very sedated, were induced and then hyperventilating when put on Sevo. It has also been similar on small dogs <10kg but thought this could be down to the wastage in the needle hub so not getting the correct dose? We started a new ACP bottle and that made no difference, reloaded vapouriser and started a new Propofol bottle.

Discussed this all with the Vet and think we are going to try upping the dose rate to 0.3mg/kg of Comfortan for a trial period. I will report back then :)

Re: Comfortan

Susanna Taylor — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 23:18:00 GMT

Hi. Doses of 0.2-0.3mg/kg methadone are the most routinely used, although you can go higher. Combined with ACP at 0.01-0.02mg/kg usually provides good sedation in most patients. Regarding the original question, firstly what sort of case numbers are we talking about here? When a change is made it can be easy to be extra sensitive to problems that may well have happened anyway and you may just be having a bad run, vets are especially notorious for this I find! I've used both generic methadone and then comfortan on many cases and have never noticed a difference, or heard any reports of it. Chemically it is exactly the same drug although comfortan has some preservative in to make it multidose - doesn't effect it's action though. If the chages you are seeing are repeatable in large numbers, I would think there is another reason. Possibilities could be a dodgy batch of propofol (which I have seen), expired ACP which has lost its potency (I've only seen this with medetomidine that has been open too long though, but it is possible) or some other equipment error -ET tube cuffs , vaporiser etc For the record I personally find all premeds work best IM and in the quads in dogs to avoid intrafat injections... Let us know how it goes and feel free to ask any other questions on here or PM!

Re: Comfortan

Nick Shackleton — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 21:16:50 GMT

We used to use 0.4mg/kg in dogs combined with acepromazine at a dose of around 0.01-0.02mg/kg

Re: Comfortan

Charlotte K — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:47:54 GMT

It has always been the 10mg/ml strength we've used. The other brand is just known as Methadone, think it's the human alternative. Maybe we should try upping the dose to 0.3mg/kg. We have tried giving it IM and SC and waiting about 30-45 mins before induction. Thanks for all your replies guys :)

Re: Comfortan

Jade Simmons — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:22:01 GMT

We use methadone at 0.3mg/kg but think you can go up to 0.5mg/kg (poss 0.4mg) of your worried perhaps organise a lunch and learn with dechra- caroline is fantastic and she can answer all your questions. We definitely see a difference in bitch sorts and ortho ops. Comfortan is the only liscenced methadone for animal use I think. We use alfaxan and Sevo and have no problems. Perhaps make sure your ACP dose is ok. Check the procedure, is it painful? Perhaps a CRI would be more beneficial. Check all your parameters and BP too.. What route are you giving your premeds and what times are you waiting. We do S/c in both speys and caroline said the comfortab can last for 6 hours. Normally we give it I/m at least 20mins before and top up every 4 hrs.

Re: Comfortan

Rachael_24 — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:44:20 GMT

We often use comfortan at 0.3mg/kg alongside ACP at 0.02mg/kg as a premed in healthy patients. We seem to have success with it and also use it for post-op analgesia in many cases.

Re: Comfortan

rachel w — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:44:50 GMT

im sure we use comfortan at 0.2mg/kg for non invasive procedures and 0.3mg/kg for invasive procedures normaly with lower dose acp and have lovely premeds have you double cked the mg/ml and not using a different strength to what your used to? Not in work at the mo or i would offer to send you our chart

Re: Comfortan

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:39:56 GMT

What was the previous brand/strength of your previous methadone?