Effect of medications misused for body weight gain on sodium and potassium concentration of female rabbits

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of some drugs on body weight, potassium and sodium concentration of female rabbits. A randomized complete block design with three replicates was used, the treatments consisted of 3 drugs of dexamethasone, cyperoheptadine and the combination of dexamethasone and cyperoheptadine administered orally with doses of 0.9 mg/kg of body weight with drugs two times a day for 45 days. Body weight and the concentration of sodium and potassium were measured. The results showed that body weight and the concentration of sodium and potassium significantly affected with treatments. The cyperoheptadine of this drugs increased body weight from (910 at zero time to 1693 g at the end of experimental period), where the increments found to be out of the normal range (16 g). It was found that potassium concentration decreased with time and the final values were (2.20 mg/dl), (2.60 mg/dl), (3.20 mg/dl) for dexamethasone, the combination and cyperoheptadine, respectively. No significant differences between these values found and they were below the normal range of potassium concentration (4.0–6.5 mg/dl). According to the results found the study concluded that cyperoheptadine and the combination increased body weight. All drugs decreased potassium concentration. Physician and pharmacist should be consultant before using these drugs to avoid the adverse effects is needed as recommended point of view, effects of drugs on serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein are also recommended for future work.