New Pain Medication: Recuvyra

In 2014, Elanco Companion Animal Health released Recuvyra.  Rucuvyra is an unique medication designed to provide pain relief for our canine patients. This topical solution is used to provide post-operative pain control.  It has a specialized new transdermal (through the skin) delivery system, which provides extended pain management and relief.  In fact, a single dose (1.2 mg/lb) applied to a dog prior to surgery will control and manage pain for approximately 96 hours (four days). Elanco says its new-patented drug delivery technology will reduce the need for home administration of pain medications.  This helps to deal with concerns about misuse and abuse of various pain relief drugs and concerns, as well as the need for diligent client compliance.

Earlier this year, Recuvyra was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the control of post-operative pain that is often associated with surgical procedures in dogs.  The active ingredient is fentanyl, which is a Class II controlled substance. In Elanco's clinical trials, 98.4 percent of dogs treated with Recuvyra received effective pain control following extended and involved surgeries.  

As a precaution, Elanco says that dogs that have been treated with Recuvyra should be isolated from children for 72 hours from the time of application. Should any contact occur, the exposed area of the child’s body should not come in contact with the child’s mouth or eyes and the exposed area should be washed with soap and water. Adults are also advised to avoid contact with the application site for the 72-hour time span. If exposed to Recuvyra, the area should be washed with soap and water.  Most of this is of no concern as a lot of patients that require Recuvyra also require multiple recovery days within the hospital. 

Like most medications, there are restrictions on the use of Recuvyra.  For instance, Elanco says the use of Recuvyra is not advised for dogs with diseased or injured skin near the application site.  It is also reserved for the most serious cases and not for dogs expected to have mild or absent perioperative pain. We also need to be concerned about dogs with paralytic ileus and dogs with known hypersensitivity to fentanyl. The most common side effects seen following surgery in dogs were: drowsiness, sedation, diarrhea, vomiting, low body temperature, abnormal heart rhythms, fever and lack of appetite. The most serious, but rare, potential side effect is decreased gastrointestinal motility with an increased risk of bacterial overgrowth.  If we have treated your pet with this medication within the last 96 hours, please contact us with concerns. 

Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic is proud to be a trend setter in our area for veterinary medicine.  Because of our desire to do the best thing for each of our patients, we have begun to use Recuvyra on every serious soft tissue surgery, as well as on every orthopedic surgery that we perform.  (Orthopedic procedures are performed at our Orrville Veterinary Clinic location)   If you have questions about this medication or its use on your dog, we encourage you to contact our office at (330)336-5823

Written by Jenn Brown, R.V.T.

Edited and Revised by Jeffrey R. Fink D.V.M.  for use on the websites of The Orrville Veterinary Clinic, Seville Wadsworth Veterinary Clinic and Akron Barberton Veterinary Clinic.