Ann & Scatcats
Very Active Member
I am wondering which medication or substance is the best to use for lowering high blood pressure?
Medications for lowering high blood pressure?
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tuckers mom
Very Active Member
My two hypertensive kitties took Norvasc. The generic version, amlodipine, was easier for us to use because we needed to quarter the tablets and the Norvasc was diamond shaped, the amlodipine was round and easier to cut.
Does one of your kitties have high blood pressure? Here is some basic info, note in the second link the topic about detached retinas in the eye, please be aware that there are things to watch out for and to get the BP checked regularly to prevent problems.
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Health/Blood-Pressure.html
http://www.cathealth.com/hypertension.htm
Does one of your kitties have high blood pressure? Here is some basic info, note in the second link the topic about detached retinas in the eye, please be aware that there are things to watch out for and to get the BP checked regularly to prevent problems.
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Health/Blood-Pressure.html
http://www.cathealth.com/hypertension.htm
Ann & Scatcats
Very Active Member
It is Gustav. A couple of weeks ago his systolic bp was 240-250, and June 16 he was given Norvasc amlodipin. But so far that has had no effect on the bp, last week he had systolic bp 230, so now he will also be given Fortekor benazepril. I am not familiar with any of them.
tuckers mom
Very Active Member
I'm sorry, the only other heart medication I used was for an amazing FD I had named Sadie(GA). She took Enalapril with her Lasix for heart disease.
"Jess and Earl" would probably be able to best help you, maybe you could send her a PM to look at this thread.
"Jess and Earl" would probably be able to best help you, maybe you could send her a PM to look at this thread.
Lisa dvm
Active Member
Ann & Scatcats said:
Norvasc (amlodipine) is considered to be far superior to benazapril for systemic hypertension.
You did not mention the dosage of norvasc but if your cat just started the meds, I question jumping to benazapril before raising the dosage of norvasc.
Sometimes people will add benazapril to norvasc but usually they try raising the dosage of norvasc first.
Hopefully, Jess will stop by. Cardio is her thing - she works in a cardiology practice.
Ann & Scatcats
Very Active Member
It's a 1/4 of a 5 mg Norvasc amlodipine tablet a day, and now the vet added 1/2 of a 2.5 mg Fortekor benazepril. And Gustav weighs 6.5 kilos - 14.3 pounds. The vet will call so I will ask him about the dosage of the Norvasc.
Patti and Merlin
Active Member
Hi Ann
I have a cat with cardiomyopathy and uses benazepril and lasix.
I have another cat with CRF and hypertension - she is on amlodipine.
Here is an article that may help you understand the difference between the use of the 2.
http://www.lcrx.com/veterinary_cardiology.html
I have a cat with cardiomyopathy and uses benazepril and lasix.
I have another cat with CRF and hypertension - she is on amlodipine.
Here is an article that may help you understand the difference between the use of the 2.
http://www.lcrx.com/veterinary_cardiology.html
Ann & Scatcats
Very Active Member
Thanks everyone!
On the heart ultrasound scan, it showed that Gustav have thickening of the walls in his left heart chamber, but no enlargements anywhere.
I am waiting for the vet to call back with the results of the plasma protein specification, since along with the bp on 230-250, the health blood tests showed Gustav had very high plasma proteins, he had 150 (normal 54-78) and very low albumin, he had 18 (normal 25-38). So he took a new plasma protein blood test and sent it away for specification. Gustav have had this before and last time it was the Immunoglobulines that was very high, but what is new this time is the very low albumine. He actually doesn't know what is causing it, and if the high blood pressure is connected to the proteins or to the thickening of the left heart chamber walls.
On the heart ultrasound scan, it showed that Gustav have thickening of the walls in his left heart chamber, but no enlargements anywhere.
I am waiting for the vet to call back with the results of the plasma protein specification, since along with the bp on 230-250, the health blood tests showed Gustav had very high plasma proteins, he had 150 (normal 54-78) and very low albumin, he had 18 (normal 25-38). So he took a new plasma protein blood test and sent it away for specification. Gustav have had this before and last time it was the Immunoglobulines that was very high, but what is new this time is the very low albumine. He actually doesn't know what is causing it, and if the high blood pressure is connected to the proteins or to the thickening of the left heart chamber walls.
Ann & Scatcats
Very Active Member
The vet called with the plasma and urine protien test results. And Gustav have blood cell cancer called Multiple Myelom (Myelomatos). It is incurable but there is treatment for it, to slow it down. He said the thickening in the left heart chamber wasn't related to it, so Gustav have two different things now: thickening in the left heart chamber and the high blood pressure, and the medications for that, and the blood cell cancer Multiple Myelom (Myelomatos).
BJM
Very Active Member
From the Merck Manual section on Gammopathies (more there)
"Tumors that secrete monoclonal antibodies originate either from plasma cells (myeloma) or lymphoblasts (lymphosarcoma). Plasma-cell myelomas can secrete intact proteins of any immunoglobulin class or immunoglobulin subunits (light chains or heavy chains). Myeloma proteins in dogs are commonly IgG or IgA types and less commonly IgM. Myelomas of the IgA type are particularly common in Doberman Pinschers. Monoclonal immunoglobulin produced by lymphosarcoma are often of the IgM class, regardless of species. Myeloma proteins in cats and horses usually are IgG and, uncommonly, IgM, IgG (T) (horses), or IgA. "
"Tumors that secrete monoclonal antibodies originate either from plasma cells (myeloma) or lymphoblasts (lymphosarcoma). Plasma-cell myelomas can secrete intact proteins of any immunoglobulin class or immunoglobulin subunits (light chains or heavy chains). Myeloma proteins in dogs are commonly IgG or IgA types and less commonly IgM. Myelomas of the IgA type are particularly common in Doberman Pinschers. Monoclonal immunoglobulin produced by lymphosarcoma are often of the IgM class, regardless of species. Myeloma proteins in cats and horses usually are IgG and, uncommonly, IgM, IgG (T) (horses), or IgA. "
Ann & Scatcats
Very Active Member
Thanks, I will ask what Gustav's specification displayed.
ohbell
Very Active Member
Hi to Ann & Scatcats & wonderful Gustav:
My gumpy girl has high bp, thickening of the heart and crf as well. The vet has her on several meds: The heart meds: She takes 2 heart meds: Norvasc 2.5 mg - she gets 1/4 every am, Aternolol 25 mg - she gets 1/4 every am; She also takes meds for her labored breathing because the heart muscles are so thick: Aminophylline 100 mg - 1/4 tab every 12 hrs. We (she) also take phenobarbitol 1/4 every evening for seizures from the high blood pressure. Because she is CRF, she takes potassium 1/2 per night for that. Maybe you could ask about those??
Hope this helps some and hugsssss and paws to ya,
mommy to sugar bean (remission), civvie Slappy, and heart patient/crf gumpy girl
My gumpy girl has high bp, thickening of the heart and crf as well. The vet has her on several meds: The heart meds: She takes 2 heart meds: Norvasc 2.5 mg - she gets 1/4 every am, Aternolol 25 mg - she gets 1/4 every am; She also takes meds for her labored breathing because the heart muscles are so thick: Aminophylline 100 mg - 1/4 tab every 12 hrs. We (she) also take phenobarbitol 1/4 every evening for seizures from the high blood pressure. Because she is CRF, she takes potassium 1/2 per night for that. Maybe you could ask about those??
Hope this helps some and hugsssss and paws to ya,
mommy to sugar bean (remission), civvie Slappy, and heart patient/crf gumpy girl
Ann & Scatcats
Very Active Member
Thanks Ohbell
The vet called again and I didn't get to ask about the heart meds. He will be starting Gustav on cancer treatment with something called ( I think he said) Alcaran, and Prednisolon. But there isn't good hopes for the treatment to help, since the studies showed only 50 % get better. I hope Gustav, even if he is 16, will be among those 50 % that do get help and also is not developing diabetes from the Prednisolon, and that there will be no conflict between the heart medications and the cancer medications.
The vet called again and I didn't get to ask about the heart meds. He will be starting Gustav on cancer treatment with something called ( I think he said) Alcaran, and Prednisolon. But there isn't good hopes for the treatment to help, since the studies showed only 50 % get better. I hope Gustav, even if he is 16, will be among those 50 % that do get help and also is not developing diabetes from the Prednisolon, and that there will be no conflict between the heart medications and the cancer medications.
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