Budesonide for IBD: oil suspension or suspension or tiny pill?

[Angel's mommie]

Hello! Angel boy is doing really well on budenoside, which is wonderful (he's pooping and eating much better) but very expensive. I'm considering ordering it next from an online pharm, thanks to tips from various wonderful folk on this forum. Two questions:

(1) Any tips on whether a suspension, plain or oil, is better for a cat with IBD than a pill/capsule? He's supposed to have his budesonide with food, and I *think* what I've been using is an oil suspension and on days he does not eat well I've been feeling comforted by the fact that the budesonide is entering his body mixed with oil, so hopefully that will be less harsh on his stomach (assuming that this is the reason he is supposed to take his budesonide with meals).

Angel also needs to put on weight (is below 8 lb at this point), so maybe the oil helps with that?

(2) In general, are some of these less expensive than other forms: small pill, capsule, suspension, oil suspension

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Lillie]

I was told it can be taken with or without food but I suppose the pill or capsule could cause some upset on an empty stomach depending on how sensitive your cat is. If he's not eating much it seems the oil suspension may be better in at least it would help get the med down. A pet pharmacist did tell me once that oil added to a liquid med is better absorbed. I'm not sure about the expense of the different forms of the med. I always just had to order whatever form I could get into his mouth.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

For IBD the budesonide has to be enteric coated so that it does not dissolve in the stomach ut in the intestines. Typically it is in a capsule with many EC granules. That is what counts, not if the EC granules are in an oil suspension
This also says take in morning.
https://www.rxlist.com/entocort-drug.htm

 

[Angel's mommie]

I was told it can be taken with or without food but I suppose the pill or capsule could cause some upset on an empty stomach depending on how sensitive your cat is. If he's not eating much it seems the oil suspension may be better in at least it would help get the med down. A pet pharmacist did tell me once that oil added to a liquid med is better absorbed. I'm not sure about the expense of the different forms of the med. I always just had to order whatever form I could get into his mouth.

Thank you, Lillie. That would have been my guess too (that the oil would be a good thing) -- but I wanted to be sure just in case there was some other info about that.

 

[Angel's mommie]

For IBD the budesonide has to be enteric coated so that it does not dissolve in the stomach ut in the intestines. Typically it is in a capsule with many EC granules. That is what counts, not if the EC granules are in an oil suspension
This also says take in morning.
https://www.rxlist.com/entocort-drug.htm

Hmmm, interesting. I had no idea about this. Will check with the pharmacist. Thank you for the info.

 

[Lillie]

With all the new forms of pet meds out there now it can get pretty confusing. I've spent a small fortune on different meds to try in different forms. When my previous cat was on prednisilone I got every form available and actually ended up just pulverizing the pill and mixing in her food. It was the cheapest way to go, and it worked just fine.