Gabapentin + diarrhea

[allie and newkitty]

If your cat experienced this, did it eventually go away and how long did it take? Newkitty is on fluids for her kidneys so I am not worried about dehydration just yet. But she is quite gassy and I am sure it is uncomfortable.

 

[Jess & Earl]

Hi Allie

Diarrhea is an uncommon side effect of gabapentin. Do you have it compounded into capsules or into something flavored? It might be the base if it's not compounded into capsules. If you do have capsules, you can talk to your vet about cutting the dose and then trying to gradually raise it. The side effects of gabapentin can go away after a bit -- my dog was a little agitated and hungry when he started it, but it went away in 2-3 wks. I don't know if the diarrhea would be the same, but I'd give it 3 wks before throwing in the towel and I'd go to a lower dose and try to titrate up. Also it could be the flavoring, if you have a liquid. Is she already on Adequan?

 

[Blue]

Neither of my cats had any bowel issues on gabapentin, but Shadoe has always been a 'gassy' girl, so I have been giving her pepcid BID.
Get the regular strength Pepcid 10mg - NOT the complete or extra strength kinds - and cut the pills into 4. Daily max for cats is 5mg, so you can give 1/4 tab at amps and pmps.

ETA: Please DO check with the vet to ensure that the mix for the gabapentin does not have any sweetener in it.
The gabapentin I have is mixed with a sugar free chicken flavor suspension but the first batch did have some sweetener in it.

 

[allie and newkitty]

Hi Jess! Thank you for answering. She is on specially compounded capsules. Supposed to get 28 mg twice a day, but I wasonly giving her 14 mg 2x a day (shaking out half the powder) though because she was so weird on bupe and I was paranoid. I had just moved her up to 28 mg in the evening, still 14 in the day last Saturday after about 5 weeks at the 14 mg BID. Diarrhea started a few days later. I since moved her back down and (coincidentally??) her poo has firmed up some and no more gas. She is on Adequan, Dasaquin and Methyl B as well. Her appetite has been very good (knock wood).

Hi Gayle! Newkitty is on pepcid, thanks so much for suggesting it. I don't know what we'd do without those little pink pills!! She is on caps on the Gaba--I just hate giving liquid meds. I am always afraid they'll aspirate it!!!

 

[Blue]

I am glad the pepcid is helping; I know it's made a big diff for Shadoe.
For any meds, supps, I give my two, i mix it into a small portion of their meals at shot times.
Since they are hungry then, they will eat up the small bit with the meds, and then I give them the rest of the meals.
I hope you have good improvements with the gaba; it's really helped both Shadoe and Oliver.