Carprofen for Dogs: Veterinary NSAID Products & Prescription Status

Carprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in veterinary medicine. In the United States, FDA currently lists carprofen among marketed FDA-approved NSAIDs for dogs, and approved carprofen products are prescription animal drugs.

The product name, dosage form, strength and prescription directions all matter. Carprofen should not be treated as a generic over-the-counter pain reliever or selected by an owner using a body-weight formula.

What is carprofen?

Carprofen is a veterinary NSAID used to reduce pain and inflammation in dogs. RIMADYL is a well-known brand-name carprofen product, and FDA has also approved multiple generic carprofen animal drugs.

Current FDA-approved carprofen labeling supports use in dogs for relief of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and for control of postoperative pain associated with soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery.

Current FDA materials identify carprofen as an approved NSAID for dogs only. FDA-approved carprofen labeling specifically states that the product is for use in dogs and should not be used in cats.

Carprofen dosage forms and strengths

Carprofen is available in more than one veterinary dosage form, so a prescription should be matched to the exact product rather than to the ingredient name alone.

Examples supported by current FDA records include oral caplets or chewable tablets in 25 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg strengths. RIMADYL is also available as a 50 mg/mL sterile injectable solution for dogs.

Those strength descriptions identify manufactured products; they are not dosing instructions. The amount, timing and duration for an individual dog are determined by the veterinarian and the directions on the prescription.

Brand-name versus generic carprofen

RIMADYL is a brand-name carprofen product. FDA-approved generic carprofen products contain the same active ingredient but are approved as their own finished animal drug products.

When comparing a brand with a generic, useful details include:

  • active ingredient;
  • dosage form;
  • strength or concentration;
  • route of administration;
  • species;
  • FDA application information;
  • prescription directions.

A veterinarian may permit an FDA-approved generic where appropriate, but an owner should not change dosage form, strength or product on the assumption that every carprofen presentation is interchangeable.

Is carprofen prescription-only?

Yes for FDA-approved veterinary carprofen products used as marketed in the United States. FDA states that currently marketed FDA-approved NSAIDs for dogs and cats are available by veterinarian prescription only.

A pharmacy or other dispenser filling a veterinary carprofen prescription should match the dispensed product to the veterinarian's order. The prescription requirement is part of the regulatory status of these approved veterinary NSAIDs, not an optional feature of a particular seller.

Veterinary monitoring and NSAID safety

NSAIDs can cause clinically important adverse effects. Current carprofen labeling discusses potential gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic toxicity and recommends a thorough history and physical examination before NSAID therapy. Appropriate baseline laboratory testing and periodic monitoring may also be considered.

The veterinarian should know about the dog's existing medical conditions and all other medications or supplements being given. Concurrent or closely sequenced use of another NSAID or a corticosteroid can affect safety and should not be initiated or changed without veterinary direction.

Owners should also follow the veterinarian's instructions if the dog develops a suspected adverse reaction. The dose, frequency and treatment duration should not be adjusted without the prescribing veterinarian.

FDA-approved carprofen versus compounded carprofen

FDA-approved brand-name and generic carprofen products are finished animal drugs reviewed under their respective approvals. Compounded animal drugs are different: the compounded preparation itself is not FDA-approved.

FDA's current animal-drug compounding materials note that approved carprofen and other approved NSAIDs are available and can be used as labeled or, when legally appropriate, in an extra-label manner under veterinary supervision. FDA also notes that a specialty formulation may be obtained through a patient-specific prescription when such a formulation is medically necessary.

That does not mean every pharmacy compounds carprofen or that a compounded carprofen formulation is interchangeable with an approved tablet, chewable or injectable product.

Newberry Express Pharmacy identifies Veterinary as one of its compounding service areas. That general statement does not establish that Newberry stocks, dispenses or compounds carprofen in a specific dosage form or strength.

What to verify before a carprofen prescription is filled

Useful product-identification details include:

  • active ingredient: carprofen;
  • intended species: dog;
  • brand name or approved generic, if specified;
  • oral or injectable dosage form;
  • tablet, caplet or chewable strength, or injectable concentration;
  • veterinarian's prescription directions;
  • FDA approval information for the finished animal drug.

FDA-approved animal drugs generally display an NADA number, or an ANADA number for an approved generic, on their labeling. Checking that information can help distinguish an FDA-approved animal drug from a compounded or otherwise unapproved preparation.

Carprofen is a prescription veterinary NSAID with established FDA-approved uses in dogs. Product selection should follow the veterinarian's prescription and the labeling for the exact carprofen product being dispensed.