Hi Kelly,
Told ya I would stop by! :mrgreen:
When latte developed the diabetes from the pred, I took her off. Her vet very much wanted us to try leukeran. I hesitated and tried nothing with Latte for a while, to see how she would do. As things progressively got worse (vomiting, not eating, diahrea), I finally decided to try the leukeran. She was, I believe on 2mg e/o to start. We didnt get past one week before I had to stop. Here is a link to our condo during this time:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/r ... 22,1887647
I think winnie/cheryl, chris/cleo, and maybe another person or two discussed different protocols or doses used in the post (cant remember - read it a few days ago, sorry). I also suggested the yahoo feline lymphoma group. They know all the different protocols/pros/cons. There were a number of people on the IBD group who used leukeran, some with success. Others w/ luck similar to Latte's.
Most, but not all kitties will experience some form of lethargy, innapetance, and/or vomiting. This is probably why your vet wants to keep the pred going in the beginning. We did not do that (was trying to keep her off the pred). So trying it this way might be sensible. My understanding for those with cats who experience ill effects, it usually wears off in a few weeks to a month.
In latte's case she lost approx 1/2lb in less than a week, I could not get her to eat anything, syringe feeding led to vomiting, and the lights seriously went out in her eyes. After a looooooong weekend, I called the vet and said we needed to start the pred again. Within hours she was feeling better. Keep in mind, Latte is ultra sensitive to drugs - especially the big guns.
I have a couple friends from other lists who use leukeran on their cats with great success, like Laura and Quincy. They all have cats with lymphoma.
I had the pills. If you go that route you want to shop around. I think the cheapest I found them were $6/pill! :shock: They need to be refrigerated and you need gloves to administer it (its a chemo drug...you dont want it getting into your system). Latte is not good at pilling, but she took them okay. I have 3-4 left, if you were to want them. Its still cold enough, I think that refrigeration would not be an issue while being shipped. The compounding is a great idea. I think I looked into it as well, but it was even more expensive than the pills. I was not even certain I could afford the regular one's.
Is there a reason the vet has not suggested budesonide. It seems to be the most common medicine and targets IBD much better than anything....and less systematic than pred. I would switch Latte in a heart beat, but Im afraid that any change will set her back enough that I cant pull her through.
Did you try the natural balance yet? They used to have a LTD chicken/liver. I have not seen it lately. But latte really took to that one. There is a salmon one, too! Even if Logan does not like it now, try it every now and again. Tastes change. You just never know!
