Will it work for a person since it is for veterinary use only? Is it possibly harmful?
Blood Disorders - Can a human being take rimadyl for pain? It is for veterinary use?
Question posted by linz3333 on 6 Aug 2012
Last updated on 23 November 2018
9 Answers
nevio
10 Nov 2017
Rimadyl is carprofen based. It was once used as a good NSAID for humans, then the company withdrew it after 10 years for purely commercial reasons. This means that a human can take it. Actually I woudn't do so because it is it not better or worse than other NSAIDs like ibuprofen or ketoprofen and the vet speciality costs much much more.
Been There DoneThat
28 March 2018
This is an addendum to a response which hasn't as yet posted. The "Trench Food" which was supplied to GIS besides "GI Biscuits" consisted of "Bully Beef" pre- beef jerkey and our favorite. .."SOS"... not really a favorite. Post Korea, there was a surplus of GI biscuits. The companies, needed a way to to rid themselves of the Biscuits so they transitioned from GI to K9... although they were initially plentiful in Vietnam. Again, easily stowed. True one needed a rock, E-tool, cover or rifle butt to break them at times, but they weren't that bad... honestly.
Regrading Carprofen... it mainly interacts with COX-2. APAP can induce hepatotoxicity post 3200mg/day. There are reports of Carprofen induced hepatotoxicity but most are idiosyncratic. Carprofen induced GI side effects such as nausea & upset, but if you only utilize it as needed for pain, that effect is dramatically reduced, i.e., it is not administered on a schedule but on an as needed basis.
Steroids (prednisone) works exceptionally well but present with their own heavy duty side effect profile.
Other NSAIDs can induce renal and cardiovascular toxicity if administered continuously.
Again, seek medical advice and only utilize on an as needed basis. I am not advocating any non-medical consumption whatsoever.
I wish you all to be pain free and I would not encourage ingesting modern day K9 biscuits
Been There DoneThat
5 April 2018
The FDA's ONADE (Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation) division gives special attention to all veterinary medications. It is not as if these medications are not given any less than those prescribed for human consumption.
WildcatVet
23 Nov 2018
Nonetheless, as a professional, let me reiterate that one should never advise or encourage a person to take any drug not specifically prescribed for them, especially not when it is formulated and dosed for an entirely different species!
Lousha1
23 June 2017
Ok, so if pet meds have such low standards why would you ever give it to your dog?
WildcatVet
23 June 2017
Because without it your dog would continue to suffer and potentially die. Overwhelming benefit versus any risk factor which is miniscule enough for sensible usage.
Why are human medications tested so thoroughly?? Lawyers.
WildcatVet
23 June 2017
Also, compare animal and human metabolism...
Lousha1
23 June 2017
Ha ha ha. I love the Internet.
DW77
23 Sep 2017
Wildcatvet wins with the Lawyers comment. I work in an FDA regulated industry and this is SOOO TRUE.
DW77
23 Sep 2017
Additionally, this is also why healthcare costs, health insurance costs, regulatory... the overall costs of healthcare are sooo high!
WildcatVet
23 Sep 2017
Every other advert you see on the telly is lawyers urging you to file suit against the drug manufacturers ~ for side effects that are clearly stated in the product inserts that are dispensed along with your medication.
Did you read them? Like I said it's a matter of benefit ~vs~ risk and doctors wouldn't prescribe if they didn't feel there was a benefit, but ultimately what you put on your mouth is YOUR decision and you'd be wise to make educated decisions.
WildcatVet
23 Sep 2017
@Lousha1. No one emphasized *low* standards except you. Would you want to pay human prices for your dog's meds because they were subjected to years of clinical trials and post-market reviews like human drugs?
As above, talk to the real source of your complaints.
PHARMA Chemist
23 Nov 2018
I'm a chemist that ensures all pet pharmaceuticals meet FDA standards. Pet drugs are held to the same high standards as human. We test every batch of raw materials to finished products to ensure safety and efficacy. So the potency is always accurate as stated on the label and USP limits. We have the same high standards as human drugs.
WildcatVet
28 Dec 2014
Carprofen (Rimadyl) is a propionic NSAID of the same class as as ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen and is no more effective, possibly less so, than the aforementioned human medications.
It has not been tested for safety in humans and has been associated with gastrointestinal, renal, and hepative toxicity: a safe and effective human dosage has not been established. (Human and canine dosages are not equivalent and for many drugs the canine dose is higher than the safe dose for humans.)
Lastly, fillers used in the preparation of animal medications may not be approved for human consumption.
Best wishes, WildcatVet
terition
28 Dec 2014
I woke up today and was hurting very bad, I thought I was going to have to stay in bed on my back. But I am taking care of my mother age 85 and have to be able to be there for her. I was giving my dog rimadyl and I took one 75mg tablet. It help me so much I was able to do house work and cook two meal and just walk around without pain. It was the first day I have been pain free for years. Yes I have been to many dr. nothing they gave me help. I had a good paying job but had to quit after thirteen years I just could not take it any more. All the drs. just said if you hurt you have to quit. Now I have not worked for two years and still hurt, sometimes I can't even walk to the other side of the room or go up and down stairs. I know you will thing I am crazy but today was great for me. I also think if I was a man instead of a women may-be they would of taken me more seriously. Tomorrow is another day and I am tired of hurting I want more days like this.
Delila
29 Dec 2014
Hi terition, a bit of back ground about Rimadyl for human consumption... It was used in this way for around 10 years at the end of the last century. However it wasn't proven to be any more effective than other NSAID's, such as Ibuprofen. Side effects that could occur were relatively mild. Most commonly, effects included mild stomach pain or other intestinal effects such as diarrhea. There were occasional episodes of nausea as well. As Wildcatvet has stated, there aren't as many safety procedures followed when producing medications for veterinary use than in human use, so you can't guarantee the safety of Rimadyl for human consumption. Also the correct dose is unknown. Have you tried taking Ibuprofen for your pain? In higher strengths possibly?
mightylou
14 April 2015
I agree with you but I only tale one 8th of a 75 ml tablet and I can sleep like a baby.
lmdc62
29 Jan 2018
I totally sympathize with you. I am in the exact same boat as you
Delila
9 Aug 2012
Hi, i agree with the others. I just wanted to add that Rimadyl is very similar to Nurofen, works in the same way, so you might want to try that instead?
jk13
7 Aug 2012
If you're in pain, you really need to go see the doctor. Pain is a signal that something is wrong and needs to be taken care of. Better sooner than later, after all, if pain is left untreated it has the potential to become a problem in and by itself. This is how chronic pain is thought to form in many cases.
Hope that you are feeling better soon! (oh and, yah, totally agree with all the posters above in regards to the pain pills)
Jeff K
DzooBaby
6 Aug 2012
Rimadyl will be no more effective for you than ibuprofen. As kaismama points out, veterinary drugs are not manufactured with as strict purity standards as drugs for human consumption. It is not advisable to take something like this. It will be no more effective for you than any other OTC anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen or naproxen which are easily obtained in a form for human consumption.
DzooBaby
6 Aug 2012
It is like dogfood, it could be eaten by a human but would you really want to? It is not manufactured with the purity standards that human foods are so who knows what you could be consuming.
Inactive
7 Aug 2012
Good thought Dzoo. I tasted a milk bone one time to see what the attracton was to my dog. YUK! is all I can say... Mary
mightylou
14 April 2015
Actually for me it is much more effective than ibuprofen. IB does work but I still can't sleep when I have arthritis pain. I cut a 75 ml Rimadyl into 8 pieces and I sleep painlessly for 8 hours. I have had no problems what so ever with it but I use a very low dose.
Been There DoneThat
28 March 2018
Despite the history, K9 biscuits were originally made for GIs. Although we didn't know the actual formulations, they supposedly contained protein, vegetables & vitamins. They were larger and could easily be stored in fatigues or your Alice Pack. After Korea, my Uncle & I actually enjoyed a few. I admit it freaks many out watching an occasional Break from traditional party foods. Not as tasty I must admit but my K9s have loved them x50+ yrs.
The FDA doesn't regulate vitamins, supplements or homeopathic products either, unless they make medical cure claims. After watching numerous K9s respond to Rimadyl, I tried it. Much better than any NSAID, including ibuprofen. When you young ones reach my age and are in constant pain, and you will one day when your body breaks down, you'll understand. My pain is not alleviated by opiates. Kratom is a joke. So instead of popping ibuprofen or diclofenac like M&Ms, 2 Rimadyl do the trick.
I'm not openly advocating this to anyone without medical intervention but it definitely works for me. I can finally sleep and have some quality of life. All the best to you all!
Inactive
6 Aug 2012
I totally agree with kaismama on this one. There are way too many people NSAIDS to take then to take one made for a dog...
bumblebee90
6 Aug 2012
I agree with both kaismama and Mary on this. Please seek an NSAIDS to take as Mary suggested. This is something you shouldn't try. Ruthie
kaismama
6 Aug 2012
The reason that humans aren't to take vet pills is because those pills don't have to be to the same safety qualifications as humans. Rimadyl is an NSAID so it probably wouldn't hurt you, but like it said its not advisable.
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