Banamine (Flunixin)

What is Banamine?

What is Banamine? This medication is an analgesic, non-narcotic, non-steroidal medication with anti-inflammatory and fever reducing properties. It is available as an Injectable Solution or as Banamine Paste. It contains Flunixin Meglumine which is an antipyrotic agent, or a fever-reducer. As a pain reducer it works to relieve pain in horses in the musculoskeletal portions of the body, as well as the intestinal pain brought on by colic. In cattle, it relieves pain associated with severe bovine mastitis, as well as the fever associated with respiratory distress. It is available by prescription through a licensed veterinarian. What is Banamine used for? Banamine Injectable Solution and Banamine Paste is for use in horses, beef, and dairy cows. FDA prohibitions restrict this medication from being used on dry dairy cattle and those raised for veal. It is used to alleviate fever and pain. How does Banamine work? This medication works by reducing the chemical production of cells that trigger pain and inflammation. By doing so, it reduces the swelling, redness, heat, and pain associated with tissue and muscle damage in horses, and mastitis and respiratory illness in cattle. It relaxes the muscles in a horses stomach, easing the pain of colic. It is not used to treat colic in horses, but instead is used to alleviate the pain associated with colic.

How to use Banamine

Banamine can be administered in an intravenous or intramuscular form. A licensed veterinarian should be consulted. The injectable medication is available as in 100 ml multi-dose vials containing 50 mg/ml and in paste form as an Oral Syringe containing 1500mg/30 Gm. Horses can be administered the dosage by IV or IM, while it is recommended that cattle be administered their dosage via IV. For IM, or intramuscular use, Banamine Injectable Solution is used. For IV, Banamine Paste is used. For use in horses, the dosage should be calculated as 1.1 milligram per kilogram of the horses body weight. IM doses should be injected at the site of pain and inflammation if possible. IV doses of Banamine Paste should be administered orally with food to reduce the risk of stomach upset. Horses may take the treatment for up to five days consecutively. Cattle should be given an oral dosage of 2.2 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. The oral dosage should be administered slowly with food. For use in cattle, do not exceed three days of consecutive use. Banamine Paste should not be given rapidly to cattle. 24 hours after initial dosage, cattle should be checked for fever. Unless the cattle shows a temperature of 104 degrees F (40 C) or higher, the dose should not be re-administered.

Banamine warnings and precautions

This medication is not for use in horses or cattle that are allergic to medications containing Flunixin Meglumine. It must be used with extreme caution in horses and cattle who have a history of ulcers or kidney disease. It is not for use in cattle that are going to be used as food, or in bulls who will be bred, as the effect on reproduction has not been verified.This medication must be administered with plenty of water to avoid adverse effects on the kidneys. Weigh the risks prior to use on pregnant horses. Side effects are generally only seen in horses or cattle that are dehydrated. Cattle must not be slaughtered for food within four days of last known treatment. In addition, milk was that has been collected during treatment, along with milk collected within 36 hours of last known treatment should be discarded.

What do I do if I have missed a Banamine dose?

If a dosage of medication is missed, it should be administered as soon as it is remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next dosage, the missed dose should be skipped and the next dosage administered at the proper time. Two doses should never be given at once.

Banamine interactions

May interact with medications such as aspirin, steroids such as predisone, or medications used to treat arthritis in horses such as Butazolidin. Please consult a veterinarian if horses or cattle are currently receiving any type of medication or nutritional supplement.

Banamine side effects

There are very few side effects that have been reported with use of this medication. Horses and cattle that were diagnosed with dehydration prior to the use of the medication have shown to exhibit kidney damage. Isolated incidents of swelling, stiffness, and sweating have been reported in horses who received this medication IM. In extremely rare cases, fatalities have occurred in horses after receiving Banamine Paste via IV.