Salmon in PZI (protamine zinc insulin)? Cat allergic.

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Christianna

Member Since 2014
Does anyone know if there is salmon protein in BCP PZI? I read online that PZI has salmon and Noodle is allergic to salmon. BCP PZI is the insulin he was prescribed but I can't reach the vet till tomorrow. I wonder if this is the reason he seems to feel worse the higher the dose gets. I wonder, should I skip tonight's dose? I'm really concerned. Thanks for any input.

Christi
 
Wondering where you saw/read that? I don't know what all is in the compounded mixture, but feel certain that if you contact BCP they can confirm or refute the inclusion of salmon in PZI.

I have experience with PZI from both BCP and VPA, but Bob wasn't allergic to anything that I know of so it wasn't an issue for him.
 
Hi Carl and Polly,
I cut and pasted the following from the link petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/suspension. In my quest to find out why Noodle hasn't had a good response to his PZI so far, I came across the info on salmon. You can bet that my first phone call in the morning will be to BCP. Not sure where we'll go from there.

Isophane suspension insulins


NPH or isophane insulins combine protamine, zinc and insulin. The difference between NPH and its older brother, PZI, is the amount of protamine in the formula; PZI insulin has more protamine in it. The salmon-derived protamine is less readily absorbed than insulin itself; basically the system must absorb all of the protamine present in the formulation before the absorption process of the insulin can begin[9].
 
Prozinc might be a better option? Works pretty much the same way but is human rDNA, rather than bovine based. Not sure if salmon is a part of Prozincs' composition. It does cost a bit more than compounded PZI though.
 
I have read of similar concerns about the suitability of bovine insulin for cats who are allergic to beef.
But everything I could find online at that time said the insulin is so purified that there is nothing of the animal left to cause allergy.
I don't have any links to info on this, but it could be worth your doing an internet search to find out more..?
 
Googling shows that it is likely the PZI insulin contains protamine for salom. However, as Elizabeth said it is very likely that the salmon allergen is not salmon protamine.

Carl said "Prozinc might be a better option? Works pretty much the same way but is human rDNA, rather than bovine based. Not sure if salmon is a part of Prozincs' composition. It does cost a bit more than compounded PZI though." The salmon is is the protamine, not the bovine insulin so it is likely that ProZinc would have to same problem but you could check with the manufacturer to check
 
I phoned BCP who makes the bovine based PZI I was using and spoke first to a pharmacist there, then was transferred to the developer of the formula. She said the insulin was 100% bovine BUT that it was suspended in a salmon-derived protein (protamine) and that she would "strongly advise" ( her words) that it not be used on any cat that has a salmon allergy. According to the pharmacist, protamine always means salmon-derived so if protamine zinc is in the name it has salmon protein in the suspension. So as of today, Noodle has been switched to Lantus. So I have a whole new protocol to learn, as the dosing instructions, expected results-time, etc. are quite different. Feel a bit overwhelmed, as I became quite familiar with what to expect from PZI but am starting new with Lantus. Oh, yes, the pharmacist also said that allergies are to the protein, not to things like salmon oil, etc. and that the protamine is from the salmon protein. I've never known of another cat allergic to salmon but am following up with this info from BCP in case there is someone out there in a weird situation like mine :-)

Christi
 
Very interesting info, Christi, and thanks for that thorough explanation.

I had thought that it was the animal proteins that caused allergies but didn't realise there was any in the PZI. Well, I've learned something today!

Good luck with your switch to Lantus.
Keeping fingers and paws crossed for you that things improve soon for Noodle. :smile:
 
Hi Larry and Kitties,
Yes, I was surprised at the pharmacist saying "always"; that certainly is different than "typically". But--hey--what did I know, and she was the pharmacist. This was news to me too. But I would have thought my vet should have known :-(

Christi
 
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