Medication Question

[Onyx & Klepto]

Hi Gang.

Has anyone seen, or heard, of the Cerenia (used for vomiting and nausea) injection causing elevated BG numbers?

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

i have used the pills and punkin was given the shots on several different occasions and we never saw it affect blood sugar.

i'm wondering if the highs you are seeing are not from the carbs in the food, but from bouncing from having hit the low numbers. We know that with Lantus, the previous dose can have an effect on as many as 6 cycles afterwards, so you probably had some residual depot causing that 34 on 3/27.

What's your thinking behind not giving shots? Is Onyx eating ok now? I'd go ahead and restart the insulin if i were you - these are some high numbers - and just go slower on the dose changes. The protocol guidelines talk about starting the dose and initially holding for 5-7 days to let the depot build. i'd go back to 1.0u and do that for at least 10 cycles unless you see a number below 50.

 

[Onyx & Klepto]

Hi Julie.

I'm doing some deductive reasoning today. When Onyx first went OTJ, her numbers dropped quickly once she changed to a super low carb food. Well she's been off carbs for about 2.5 days, and her numbers have stayed put in the 300s. I was convinced they would at least drop to the 200s. So I think I can safely rule out her elevated numbers are from food. I think the group was right and she had bouncing the other day.

My vet was convinced her high numbers were from allergies and the stress it caused with pulling her hair out. Well she's now been on an antihistamine/sedative for 4 to 5 days, and THAT showed no sign of lowering her numbers, but it has helped her allergies. So I think the vet was wrong.

Her blood work all came back great, except for the elevated BG. So I'm wracking my brain trying to think if it could be something OTHER than just that the diabetes is back for no reason. The only new thing introduced to her, were the cerenia shots, which she's been getting for 6-8 months. Sometimes she's gotten a few a week. So I've been doing research to see if that can affect BG numbers. I did find one study that says it can elevate "blood levels", but I'm not sure exactly what's meant by that. It's so vague...lol.

I did start over today though, with 1U of Lantus, since her number are staying in the 300s, and not in the 400s. I think I panicked the other day with that drastic drop to 34. She wasn't eating all, so I was sure it was the carbs causing it. I'm so bummed it wasn't. The goal now is to get her regulated, becuase it's looking like diabetes just might be back--and here to stay. Only time will tell.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

it's good to look at all of these factors that have changed and might play into something.

some cats come out of remission because of dental infections - that's a really common one. pancreatitis is another one. any possibility of either of those with Onyx?

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Brandi --

The first thing that leaped out at me is that Onyx has been getting Cerenia for 6 - 8 mos. Why? If Onyx is having problems with nausea and/or vomiting that is lasting for more than a couple of days, you're vet should be looking for a cause and not just treating symptoms. Pfizer, the manufacturer, notes that Cerenia shouldn't be given for more than 5 days.

If you're needing to give a medication for nausea and vomiting, there's a good chance that Onyx's system is stressed. The stress alone could elevate BG levels. (Gizmo has been going through a GI problem along with a URI and when I took him to the vet, his BG was slightly elevated and he's not diabetic.)

 

[Onyx & Klepto]

Julie.
I really don't think so. Her bloodwork came back normal last week. And I would assume that if she had an infection in her teeth, her white blood cells would be elevated. I'm getting a copy of the results on Monday though so I can see for myself.

Sienne.
The vet started giving her the Cerenia becuase the Young Again makes her really sick and vomit a lot (from an allergy we believe), which was the reason she stopped eating it eventually. I haven't given it to her in over a month. She was getting a shot 2 or 3 times a month, and from what I've been told, the injections are much more potent than the pills. I'm seriously wondering if the shots might have done something. To a normal cat, it probably wouldn't...but a cat who is in remission from diabetes, you would think might be more vulernerable to side effects. And since ECID, it's hard to tell what meds might mess with their BG numbers.

I did notice the "no more than 5 days in a row" warning, but she's never taken it consecutively, so I doubt the vet saw any harm in it. Fortunately, since she stopped eating the Young Again, the vomiting problems stopped. And now that I know the food isn't the cause of the increase in numbers, I've taken the Young Again away to avoid it happening again.

:smile:

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I wouldn't necessarily draw the same conclusion. The injectible form vs. the pill may have a different length of action or differ pharmacologically.

If your vet is a member of VIN (Veterinary Information Network) -- it's a professional board for veterinary professionals -- I'd suggest asking him if he could post about this issue since there are veterinary pharmacologists on the network. Alternatively, if there's a vet school in your area, call the pharmacy there and ask. Cerenia is for veterinary use only so you can't check with your local pharmacist.