Does anyone know what pseudoephedrine is?

[lilratsy43]

Should we be using it on our rats? There is this girl on CL (I think its the same one), she has now posted twice about her pet rat. I think he is older but she had a lot of valid questions and seemed very worried about him, so I filled her in with the things I could answer but this I do not know about. I also invited her here but she seems to like posting her questions on CL.

Here's the post:
http://syracuse.craigslist.org/pet/1588360686.html

It reads:
so the vet told me his lungs were perfectly clear and he seemed just congested. He recommended I buy a humidifier which makes a world of difference. I also bought straight pseudoephedrine at 1.5 mg twice daily via a syringe. Well, he HATES the syringe and snaps at it very aggressively although I can usually get some in his mouth. He gets kinda loopy from the meds but does not have difficulties walking or moving, just kinda sleepy. So, he escaped out of his cage like he loves to do while im cleaning and jumped into my boyfriends closet. I reached in to grab him all the way from the back and he squealed and bit me. Hard enough to leave indents but didnt break the skin. He has never snapped before even when he got in the closet before. Could it be because he was loopy from the meds? any advice? How should I have reacted? I put him back in his cage instantly. How can I be sure this doesnt happen again? Please give me some insight on this unusual behavior!
ps. He is acting 100% normal except a little loopy from the meds. Eating and drinking. Clear lungs, and a noticeable change in his nasal breathing. He has never bit in his life, always a very loveable boy. He was standing on the air conditioner which was put away for the winter which has grooves in it that he maybe could have gotten his foot stuck in, but I am not sure what sounds more feasable. Hes never reacted fearful of humans before.

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If you guys have any advice for her email her, or I would be willing to fill her in!

 

[eagle]

http://www.drugs.com/pseudoephedrine.html

Sudifed for humans

 

[Godmother]

You might want to look up pseudoephedrine on the Rat Health Guide. I can also check Debbie Ducommon's book.

I'd be cautious with that drug in rats. It's the active ingredient in Sudafed, and it does have stimulant properties. (I once worked with someone who was a workaholic and took it to stay awake while doing long commutes... not a good idea). It raises the blood pressure, too, and it dries out mucous membranes.

It is a great drug for people when they have sinusitis, and it's a great adjunct to antihistamines for people who are allergic to cats, but I don't know how a rat would react.

 

[lilratsy43]

I was also worried about how much she is giving him and that she said he was loopy from the meds. I don't think those are very good signs...

 

[Godmother]

Here is the info from the Rat Guide:

http://ratguide.com/meds/respiratory_dr ... e_hcl_.php

So your vet is using the upper end of the dose range. Since his breathing is better, maybe it would be worth seeing whether the humidifier alone is doing the job. If not, perhaps she could call her vet, let him/her know what happened, and see whether it would be worth trying a lower dose.

 

[lilratsy43]

Thanks Godmother, I will definately let her know!

 

[Godmother]

lilratsy, how did this turn out? Did the rat get better? I had to resort to this med this morning because nothing else was helping my Bill enough.

 

[SQ]

There are other drugs the vet could be giving the rat for breathing diff. if he needs something.

Also, there are threads on here re giving meds to rats. Sounds like she could use the info.

 

[sprite71]

My rattie Jewel gets a tad nippy with her pain meds too (not saying PE is a pain med I know its not). Pseudoephedrine causes us humans to feel energetic this is the whole issue with Sudifed and the likes being used in Meth labs etc.. This is why its off the shelves now too.. If we react one way what would make it different for our animals who can take most of what we can? My rattie is on a Rat narcotic med, and gets jumpy and nippy for a bit after dosing. Well we would too lol.. Best thing to do is speak to your vet and let him/her know of his reaction to it. They may have to lower it some or totaly remove it.

 

[lilratsy43]

lilratsy, how did this turn out? Did the rat get better? I had to resort to this med this morning because nothing else was helping my Bill enough.

Sorry just noticed the response. She said her rat is doing much better!