2/23 Pepper AMPS 140, +5.5 69, PMPS 314

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Nancy&Pepper (GA)

Member Since 2012
yesterday

Syringe fed Pepper last night and this morning.

Good news! The vet was at her office today and called to see how Pepper was doing. She prescribed an appetite stimulant for him. She's prescribing Cypro (can't remember the full name) because she said the other one (I guess Mirtazapine) can cause tachycardia. Dose anyone have experience with cypro? Is there a best time to give it? I thought I've read condos that say people are giving very small doses.
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140 - Cypro ?

We have used Cyproheptadine (cypro) with Zener for over two years, and in the last several months, we give him a little bit of cypro routinely at AM and PM shot time as one of his regular meds. It has been a real life saver, as there have been times when he wouldn't eat at all. We combine the cypro with ondansetron to control for nausea, as we learned here, one should not give a kitty an appy stimulant if the kitty has nausea. Cypro lasts about 12 hours, so can be used a bit easier than the "meowzapine" as some people call mirtz. It takes longer for the body to clear (I don't remember exactly how long), so if you give too much, your kitty can be unsettle and anxious for a longer time. Zener was on it once, and it made him very anxious and unsettled. The cypro does not have that effect for him.

The prescribed dose is often 1mg and that is much more than needed. Some kitties will react also by getting "meowy" and being restless and unsettled. We get the 4mg tablets, cut them into quarters (1mg each piece), then cut those in half (0.5mg) and then cut that again (0.25mg). So, it works out to be ~1/16 of a tablet, and sometimes less, just a crumb or dust is enough. Zener gets 1/16 twice a day, and occasionally 1/8 if he is not eating and BG numbers are low. We use a pill cutter to do the fine cutting and a hiking headlamp for plenty of light to see. Zener takes the cypro in a pill pocket, and we sometimes sprinkle fortiflora on the pill pocket to add flavor, if he isn't interested. We use the non-allergenic duck pill pockets - they only make the canine ones now, but we cut them into small pieces, just enough to cover the med in a small little ball.

This pill cutter looks great, we need to try one:
http://www.amazon.com/Ezy-cut-Table...ting/dp/B004W2DW1G/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20

This is like the one we use:
http://www.amazon.com/Ezy-Dose-EZY-Tablet-Cutter/dp/B0000532OV/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20

Hiking headlamp:
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Diamond-Spo ... 424&sr=1-6

We use a magnifying lamp like this for drawing up insulin, but it could work for cutting pills in small bits:
http://www.amazon.com/Imported-Goods-92 ... B001BX3ZUC

We get the 4mg tablets from thrivingpets.com. Our vet is no longer carrying as many meds and this is one we can get easily online. I imagine Drs Foster and Smith and other online veterinary pharmacies will have the Cyproheptadine and sometimes cheaper than from the vet.
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140 - Cypro ?

We give cyproheptadine to Zener. We test then give him his meds, then feed then shoot. It takes about an hour for the cypro to kick in. We started with just giving a tiny sliver of a 4 mg pill, about as big as the period at the end of the sentence. Seriously. We are now giving him about 1/16 of a pill in the morning and evening. We also give him 1 mg of ondansetron for nausea, which should be given with the appy stimulant. He takes his meds in a bit of pill pocket. Paws crossed for Pepper's appy to kick in.
Liz
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140 - Cypro ?

Liz, is ondansetron always supposed to be given with the cypro? The vet didn't think it was necessary because Pepper wasn't vomiting his food.
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140 - Cypro ?

No -- ondansatron doesn't need to be given in combination with the cypro. Zener gets the ondansatron since he has issues with nausea.
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140 - Cypro ?

Thanks Sienne.

Liz - if it takes an hour to kick in, how do you feed and shoot right after you've given it to him? It seems that you would have to wait an hour for him to eat.
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140, +3.5 103 - Cypro ?

i can't answer that question, but you might want to pm liz or anne if you don't hear from them by tonight.

i just wanted to say i'm happy for you that you've gotten a new med to try for Pepper! i hope it's just the thing. :YMHUG:
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140, +3.5 103 - Cypro ?

Sorry for the double post this morning. Night duty bean (that's me - Anne) and MamaLizBean were replying at the same time. :lol:

We usually give the cypro about 30 minutes before shot time when we start our test and feed routine. We start a little early so we can be sure he eats something before the shot. We are pretty sure now when the cypro will kick in, so we feel okay shooting without much food on board as we know he will start eating soon.

When we first started, we would often delay the shot if he wasn't eating. Since our shot time was constantly moving by about an hour, we started doing the test routine more like +11 or +11.5. This took us a few months to work out a stable routine and the right meds combination.

We have quite the meds cocktail for Zener because he has IBD and early CKD plus his FD. The FD also does a number on his GI motility. Cypro alone is okay if nauseau isn't the reason for the inappetance.

Paws crossed for peppy appy for Pepper.
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140 - Cypro ?

Sienne and Gabby said:
No -- ondansatron doesn't need to be given in combination with the cypro. Zener gets the ondansatron since he has issues with nausea.
Karrie & Maverick always suggests that an anti-nausea drug be given with an appy stimulant.
Liz
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140, +3.5 103, +5.5 69, +7 136

I hope that the meds will help Pepper :smile: . Healing vines and appy vines are being sent by the tons!
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140, +3.5 103, +5.5 69, +7 136

then i would try the cypro. gotta work with what you've got.

great to see pepper have such a good cycle today! how is she tonight?
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140, +3.5 103, +5.5 69, +7 136

Rachel - Thanks for the vines

Julie - Pepper still isn't eating or drinking. Hoping the cypro helps and we'll be calling the cardiology vet in the morning.
 
Re: 2/23 Pepper AMPS 140, +3.5 103, +5.5 69, +7 136

Tons of appy vines for Pepper. I agree with julie, you use what you've got.
Liz
 
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