Tramadol or gabapentin for arthritis?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Karen & Angus(GA)

Karen & Angus(GA)

Member Since 2009
Minou is 19 years old and has arthritis, IBD, and cholangiohepatitis. She is not diabetic. Her IBD and cholangiohepatitis are well controlled with prednisolone and cisapride. She is having noticeable pain with the arthritis (limps, does not squat or jump at all any more, has difficulty grooming). She is on the maximum dose of Adequan. We have also tried a 6 week course of cold laser therapy that did not help. My vet has suggested we try either Tramadol or gabapentin. I have not used either before, so I welcome any experience or comments you can offer. Thanks.
 
While tramadol is not expensive, many cats get spaced out on the specific dose which is 1/4 of a 50 mg tablet. I can be compounded but it tastes terrible. I would try the gabapentin
 
If nothing else works for a cat, then and only then would I personally use Tramadol. All of my cats just acted bad on it, either zombied out or they cried in their sleep or acted like they were seeing things. The older the cat, the scarier the side effects I had.

I would recommend trying gabapentin first.
 
Many of our acromegalic cats have aches & pains, and most of us give them Gabapentin. I think Tramadol has drug interactions with other meds, like Bupenorphine, so you would want to keep that in mind if she's on other meds and research before you decide. Gaba does not.

Lu-Ann
 
Thanks everyone. My vet gave me a couple of Tramadol tablets to try this weekend and, like you all predicted, she is very loopy.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top