Florinef, Prednisone and Percorten-V side effects

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Our Addison’s dog, Shakti had been on her Addison’s meds for about six months when her hair started falling out. We since found out that it was most probably due to too much prednisone. This article lists the side effects for Percorten-V, Florinef and Prednisone. Â If your pet is experiencing any of these side effects, the dosage or interval of the drugs may need to be reduced.

PERCORTEN-V Side Effects

Hypernatremia (electrolyte disturbances)
Hypokalemia (low blood potassium)
Polyuria (excessive urination)
Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
Increased blood volume
Edema (fluid retention)â€”watch for excessive weight gain
Weight loss
Cardiac enlargement
Depression
Anorexia (i.e. not eating)
Skin and coat changes
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Weakness
Incontinence
Pain on injection
Injection site abscess

Prednisone Side Effects and Florinef (fludrocortisone acetate) Side Effects

These drugs have similar side effects (Florinef has glucocorticoid properties and acts like prednisone). These include:

Hunger
Loss of hair
Muscle atrophy (wasting)
Panting
Urinating and drinking excessively
Poor quality coat
Frequent skin infections
Thinning skin
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Other gastrointestinal upsets
Excessive weight gain
Diabetes mellitus
Elevated liver enzymes
Lipidemia (excess fat in the blood)

Unfortunately, the side effects of these drugs can mimic other disorders that are common in Addisonâ€™s disease (i.e. hypothyroidism) and even Addisonâ€™s disease itself, so itâ€™s vitally important to have your petâ€™s blood checked for electrolyte imbalances and other disorders.

References:

Barbara Forney, VMD. Prednisone for veterinary use.Wedgewood Pharmacy.

Mike Richards, DVM. Corticosteriod side effects. Vet Info

Novartis. Percorten-V product information. Novartis.