ATOPICA - Usage, Side Effects & How to Save Money

What does it look like?

Atopica comes in capsules which should be swallowed whole. Different sizes of capsule are available for different sized dogs and are colour coded.

What is it for?

Atopica is used to treat itchy skin in dogs. It can be dramatically effective for dogs which are suffering from severe, constant itchiness which left untreated is extremely unpleasant. However it is only effective for one particular type of itchiness (or “pruritis” as vets call itchy skin). This is technically known as “chronic atopic dermatitis”.

• Chronic means longstanding – it just does not seem to go away. It might seem to respond to treatment at first but soon comes back.
• Atopic means it is caused by atopy, which is a particular type of skin allergy. It is set off by tiny particles in the air, which are either inhaled or land on the skin. Different dogs will react to different things, but often plant pollens are involved (the same ones which cause hay fever in people). Another very common cause is household “dust”, which contains tiny skin particles shed by people and “house dust mites” – microscopic creatures which live in our carpets and other minute nooks and crannies around our homes.
• Dermatitis means inflammation of the skin. This is the bit which matters to dogs and their owners. Sometimes it drives the poor dogs into biting and scratching themselves so severely that large areas of skin can become hairless, thickened and often become darker in colour. Sometimes the skin might be so badly damaged that in places it might look red, scabby and bleeding. This constant itching can go on for months or years and some of the poor dogs get little or no relief from most other treatments.
• It is important to realise that Atopica does not treat all causes of itchy skin. If a dog has fleas, or an infection of the skin (caused by bacteria or yeasts) then Atopica will not help, and might even make things worse. Therefore it is vital to ensure that dogs under treatment have been carefully assessed by a knowledgeable vet and that treatment progress is carefully monitored. Atopica can be marvellous for treating itchy skin in dogs, but as the name suggests, it has to be atopic dermatitis or atopy.

How does it work?

Atopica works by suppressing the part of the body’s immune system which is “over-reacting”. (For the more technical, Atopica contains the drug cyclosporine, which inhibits T-lymphocytes.) This means that even if the trigger for the itching is still present, the reaction is stopped and the itching goes away.

There are other drugs which suppress the immune system and hence can be used to treat atopic dermatitis. Steroids (also known as corticosteroids, such as prednisolone) are often used. There are advantages and disadvantages of using these different types of treatment, but they are all powerful drugs which can have wide ranging effects on the body and obviously should only be used under the careful control of a qualified vet.

Side effects and precautions

There are several possible side effects with Atopica. These are mostly mild and disappear if treatment is stopped. The most common are tummy upsets. Vomiting or mild diarrhoea are sometimes seen. However more serious effects can occur and mostly relate to the effect Atopica has on the immune system. If there is a skin infection present, Atopica might make it more difficult to treat the infection. Hence this should be treated first if possible, before Atopica is given. Also it is thought that using Atopica might make certain mailignant tumours grow more quickly, though it will not actually cause tumours in the first place.

Atopica clearly should not be used without good reason, but usually it is found to be a very safe and effective treatment. Most dogs show no apparent ill effects at all, and can receive huge benefits from using Atopica. Hence a balanced decision has to be made, based on the severity of the condition to be treated, the response to various treatments, and any concerns over possible side effects.

How to save money on Atopica

Atopica can be supplied by your local vet. This might be the most expensive way, but it is easy. However Atopica is not a cheap drug and can be supplied legally online by places such as VioVet. Many people use online suppliers these days to help with the costs of medication. It must first be prescribed by the vet who is directly responsible for the care of the dog in question. This means that a vet must assess the dog’s condition and then decide, in conjunction with the owner, what treatment is most appropriate. If the decision is to use Atopica, then the vet is legally obliged to provide a written, signed prescription on request and without any further charge being made (in the United Kingdom). This can then be forwarded to an internet pharmacy such as VioVet so that the drug can be supplied.

(VioVet use exactly the same Atopica as your local vet but are able to supply it more cheaply.)

Price Comparison

Product Title	Typical Vet Price	Online Price	Buy Now
Atopica 10mg (price per capsule)	£1.70	£0.98
Atopica 25mg (price per capsule)	£1.70	£0.98
Atopica 50mg (price per capsule)	£3.04	£1.70
Atopica 100mg (price per capsule)	£5.26	£2.88