Q about gabapentin with heart issues

[Leah&Romeo]

Hi, I’m looking for some general advice or if anyone has had a similar experience. A few weeks ago I rushed my cat to ER because he was struggling to breath, they stabilized him and did their tests and suspect congenital heart failure. He is seeing a new vet tomorrow to get a follow-up check and see what long term meds they suggest (he has not had a regular vet before this, and cannot afford a cardiologist). He is very aggressive in office, always has to be sedated to get anything done, and I have a previous script for gabapentin that he got at a different ER visit earlier this year. This new vet said to give him 1 pill (100mg) the night before the appt, and another one a couple hrs before the appt in the morning. The last time he was on this med he was extremely sedated the whole day, and I’m worried about giving it to him the night before, when I can’t monitor him. Has anyone done this with their cat? Esp with heart issues? His breathing has been fine since the ER but it still makes me nervous.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I have no experience with this issue but I will tag @Wendy&Neko and @Suzanne & Darcy as they may have had experience with gabapentin and heart issues

 

[Leah&Romeo]

Thank you I appreciate it!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Sorry, my experience was with buprenorphine and heart issues, and there was no problem with both. Neko had CHF, though with the cardio vet's help and the right meds, she managed to get over it for a while. Gabapentin is not good for kidney cats.

 

[Leah&Romeo]

Ok thank you! As far as I know he doesn’t have any kidney issues.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

The cardiologist for my Mia said to give gabapentin before his visits to facilitate the exam and echocardiogram.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

To the extent that it's comparable, I work with a lot of people with congestive heart failure. Many of them take gabapentin routinely. There's not been a problem.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I do currently have a cat who has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and reduced systolic function. She is on a number of different cardiac meds. I have never asked her cardiologist whether Gabapentin is okay for her because she’s pretty cooperative at the vet. I used it on a cat this summer for a different condition and it was very sedating. I just don’t know if I would want to chance it. In my case, I won’t give Ginger any prescription meds that the cardiologist doesn’t okay. I do give her some supplements though. Sorry that I never had to ask about Gabapentin specifically. The way they’ve told you to do it is a common way of prescribing it (one the night before and another one a few hours before the vet visit.). I’m especially uncomfortable about you not being able to watch him after giving the Gabapentin.