5/9 Autumn amps 113-going back to her Levemir

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MommaOfMuse

MommaOfMuse

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Autumn was still in the high 500s up until her +6 until I couldn't take it anymore and pulled out the N that came with my foster girl to yank her back down. I just can't leave her up there as she's ketone prone.

I don't think it is so much a problem with the insulin in general as it is this specific vial. It was donated by someone who lost their sugarcat and set to expire this month. It was meant as a stop gap until her actual Prozinc got here since my vet clinic doesn't normally use it. But I think it's dead.

So for now I'm taking her back to her Levemir until we have fresh insulin. Just not willing to risk DKA or making my girl feel miserable. We will be back and I plan on hanging around learning this insulin in the meantime.

Mel and The Fur Gang
 
It did seem strange that she was so suddenly high and never dropped at all for that first cycle. Why is it taking so long for the PZI?
 
Did you get your vet to order the trial vial? It's 100 U and took like 2-3 weeks to get to the vet's office. That's how we started. After that, it's about $100 for 500U and you get it over night, refrigerated. The vet has to fax the pharmacy a script with refills and you just call and pay on the phone and they send it. Lucian's vial has a 6 month expiration date.

Wish there was some place to get it cheaper, but as far as I know, they are the ONLY place to get it.
 
Sue

It's basically a contest of wills between the vet and I she wants Autumn on N which I refuse to use. So had to go to a different clinic to get it ordered and of course they wanted to run their own bloodwork even though I provided 2 years of tests results and spreadsheets :roll:

So the trial bottle just got ordered. Love my vet but oh lord she has a blind spot about insulin. Really hoping seeing what I've done with this foster Cali by taking her off 7u bid N putting her on Levemir and switching her to a proper wet diet will finally drive my point home. Because after being diabetic for 2 years and still presenting very poor control she'll be going home more than likely OTJ.

When I took in Cali she was bunny hopping to walk, she was down on all 4 hocks, peeing bright red blood, in extreme pain and her eyes were foggy. Her coat and skin was so thin I almost wondered if she had Cushings. Two months later...she's trotting around my house all bright eyed, her coat is coming back in sleek and shiney. As well as making it to day 9 before failing her first OTJ trial.

Mel and The Fur Gang
 
Glad you got it ordered. Hope it shows a difference for Autumn.

After all this time, how can your vet doubt you? I don't get it, I was the one that thought her vet was a B and found out different. After all this time, your vet should know that experience counts.
 
I know huh? She feels comfortable enough to place Cali in my care but not decide what insulin I want to use on my own. I kind of think it's because it's compounded and awhile back there was that menigitus out break that killed a bunch of people because of problems with a compounding pharmacy. She didn't bat an eye when I wanted to use my Levemir with Cali. Or when I asked to change from Lantus to Lev with Musette. But threw a fit over using BCP PZI. Love her, known her since we were both 5 years old but sometimes...

Mel and The Fur Gang
 
Seeing that BCP is the only pharmacy I am aware of that is compounding PZI, I don't see the problem. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought they were the only ones doing it. Were they the ones that had the issue years back?
 
Sorry you're having such a struggle with Autumn. I got a foster 2.5 weeks ago that was on 9u NPH. HORRIBLE. He "de-toxed" for 3 days, then I started on Lev. I'm micro-dosing now (.5u minus 2-3 drops), his coat is STUNNING - no dandruff, good tenting. Mats trimmed. Interactive, sociable, playful... an all-around good kitty. I didn his 7-14-30 averages and 7 day was ~186! Spartacus has a tab on Grayson's SS if you'd like to look... unfortunately, I haven't put the N numbers in from his curves noted in the vet records. Harsh is an understatement, from what I've seen.
 
Looks like Autumn is doing better...glad to see it. I have a question. Is Prozinc the same as PZI?
 
No.

BCP PZI is different from Prozinc which is different from Hypurion PZI (found in Europe).
 
Cindi,

BCP PZI is a compounded insulin produced by one pharmacy in Texas, that was developed to be similiar to the PZI that was discontinued several years ago. I used the original PZI on my cat Oliver years ago.

This is "propoganda" from their website.
Bovine PZI Insulin
BCP Veterinary Pharmacy has replicated the discontinued formula for 100% bovine protamine zinc insulin (PZI). With only one amino acid difference occurring at site A18, bovine PZI is the closest match to feline insulin available. Cats can accept this insulin better because it is much more like their own. By comparison, recombinant human insulin is the furthest removed from feline insulin with four amino acid differences, while porcine insulin has three amino acid differences and is structurally closest to canine insulin. The protamine binds to the insulin molecule and slowly releases insulin into the bodily tissue.

ProZinc is a human insulin that was created for cats. Here is their "propaganda"
PROZINC offers reliable, lasting results.
PROZINC is a protamine zinc insulin -- ideal for diabetic cats -- with a convenient duration of 10-14 hours.1 It releases slowly to help maintain a consistent blood glucose level throughout the day.

It's formulated just for cats.
Backed by extensive clinical studies, PROZINC is specifically designed for feline diabetes and is the first protamine zinc insulin with FDA approval for diabetic cats.

For our purposes, we consider the two insulins about the same. They seem to produce about the same results and are dosed the same.
 
Different manufacturers.

BCP
PZI® insulin is available in 100u/ml 5ml or 10ml, 50u/ml 10ml & 40u/ml 10ml. 40u syringes are also available for purchase.
Click to expand...

Prozinc is only available as U-40.
 
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