Anyone out there use Cisapride? Looking for some advice.

[RobbiesMom]

Just got our Cisapride prescription and Robbie is supposed to take 1ml 2x a day - I realize I didn't speak to our vet carefully enough about administering this or anything really - I planned to call him when it came but it's July 4th holiday and I wanted to get him started - his dosage is 1ml - the syringe is really thin and small and looks like 1 ml is the entire syringe which makes me nervous - so I looked at the syringe I use to give him his lactulouse and it makes more sense as on that one (fatter) the 1ml mark looks like a reasonable amount. I'm just scared to give him the wrong dosage and feel pretty stupid that I can't figure out what 1 ml is - might be that I worked for 17 hours yesterday and only got about 3 hours sleep. I'm just very worried cause he hasn't really had a good poop in about a week - he's gone some every day but not enough - he's OK - eating, playing, preening, being pretty normal - he's not in and out of the litter box or anything but he clearly doesn't feel great cause he keeps going under the bed and sleeping there - which is NOT him.

I'd love to know how anyone gives their cats the cisapride? Do you put it in food? The bottle says give before food - so I did just put it right in his mouth but I've read someplaces that people mix it in the food? What kind of reactions have you gotten? I heard they can get cramps and be in pain from this - so far he's only had very small dose (cause I was trying to figure out the 1ml thing) like .05 ml - before breakfast and he's had no reaction at all -I know this is an accumulative type of medication I just wanted some sort of input on what I might be able to expect - even though I know ECID.

thanks to anyone with a cat with mega colon or just issues who is on cisapride - I'd appreciate any input. I am also on the Yahoo Feline Mega Colon forum but I find it harder to follow and get advice from.

Thank you .

 

[Karen & Angus(GA)]

My Minou is on cisapride. She has constipating IBD. The syringe that comes with her bottle does hold 1 ml, so I am guessing yours probably does too. For a quick check, 1 ml is a little less than 1/4 tsp so you could fill the syringe and squirt it into a 1/4 tsp measuring spoon. I squirt the medicine directly into her mouth. It is turkey flavored, so she doesn't seem to mind. She has not shown any signs of cramping, though I am not sure how I could tell. She has been on it for almost two years now and it has helped a lot.

 

[terri1962]

RobbiesMom

Just read you are using Lactulose. Have you tried using Miralax? Lactulose is very effective but is a nasty drug and I believe it contributed to my cat going into liver failure but not sure about that. He was on it for along time and a high dosage due to chronic constipation.

Terri

 

[RobbiesMom]

Thank you Karen and Terri -
Robbie has not been on lactulose that long - off and on about 2 years but mostly off and never more than 3ml at a time. I am ALSO using miralax - he gets both right now - the miralax doesn't seem to work well with him at all. Not sure. Hoping the Cisapride kicks in soon. Thank you

 

[Blue]

My Oliver is getting the following:
Gabapentin 25mg bid, Cisapride 7.5mg tid, Miralax 1Tbsp bid, Sennakot 1 tab bid, Fish oil bid, Lactulose 3ml bid, 100 ml LR subq every 2nd day.

The gaba is for his acro aches and headaches, and the rest is for his megacolon. It was tried to cut down on some of the meds but the problems just returned.

ETA:
He is not having bowel movements every day but when he does, it's a BIG one. If it seems that he's getting a bit loose, adjustments are made. He developed this condition when he became very ill after receiving vaccines; he went OTJ and developed his megacolon condition. Frequent enemas and help from the vet was needed in the first few months, but he seems settled now with the above meds.

 

[RobbiesMom]

Gabapentin 25mg bid, Cisapride 7.5mg tid, Miralax 1Tbsp bid, Sennakot 1 tab bid, Fish oil bid, Lactulose 3ml bid, 100 ml LR subq every 2nd day.

Oh, boy ... OK 7.5 mg - robbie is getting 1 ml? and it's BID not sure how to compare that. and he's only getting 1/8 teaspoon Miralax bid - metimucil - never tried Sennakot - would love to hear your thoughts on the benefit of that, we tried fish oil - he HATED it - I am thinking of trying again as it would help his arthritis too, the lactulose we backed off of a bit but are going back at the vets advice to 3 ml bid for a bit. "100 ml LR subq every 2nd day" not sure what that is - sorry.

thank you for the info - would love any other input you have on the above.

 

[Blue]

Gabapentin 25mg bid, Cisapride 7.5mg tid, Miralax 1Tbsp bid, Sennakot 1 tab bid, Fish oil bid, Lactulose 3ml bid, 100 ml LR subq every 2nd day.

Oh, boy ... OK 7.5 mg - robbie is getting 1 ml? and it's BID not sure how to compare that. and he's only getting 1/8 teaspoon Miralax bid - metimucil - never tried Sennakot - would love to hear your thoughts on the benefit of that, we tried fish oil - he HATED it - I am thinking of trying again as it would help his arthritis too, the lactulose we backed off of a bit but are going back at the vets advice to 3 ml bid for a bit. "100 ml LR subq every 2nd day" not sure what that is - sorry.

thank you for the info - would love any other input you have on the above.

At one point, it was thought maybe Oliver was getting too much meds and diff decreases were tried but he got all bunched up again, so it seems he needs it all.

Senokot is a stool softener; you can discuss with your vet or just try it as it won't do a harm.
The 100ml LR is subQ fluids given to him .... by giving miralax, you need to add more water to the cat's intake, and Ollie does not drink plain water from a bowl, so he gets fluids every 2nd nite before bed.
If he hates the oil, then don't give it to him.... there are other less pleasant things to give that accomplish the same end results.

 

[RobbiesMom]

Robbie still drinks a lot of water probably from the diabetes but he was always a good water drinker and I add lots of water to all his food. I'd rather try add the fish oil to his food again and see if he's changed his mind - so much stuff in his food these days he might not care. Rather that than giving him less pleasant things.

thanks Gayle.

 

[Blue]

When you are giving meds that help with constipation, they all draw water from the cat's body and into the stool to soften it. It is for that very reason you would need to add MORE water to your cat's intake. if you do not, you may end up with less constipation but a cat sick from dehydration. You may want to talk to your vet about giving fluids every other day, even just 50cc to help.

 

[RobbiesMom]

We've been checking for dehydration - the vet said last visit he was nowhere near dehydrated. He drinks quite a bit and always has water added to his food. We're keeping an eye on it. Thanks.