Re: seeking beans who have used Gabapentin on cat for pain
Hi Nancy,
I've been looking into pain med alternatives to metacam and other NSAIDS, and posted some links and info on gabapentin, buprenorphine and tramadol here:
viewtopic.php?p=63616#p63616
-- includes info links re: drug interactions, drug metabolism in liver & kidneys, a gabapentin monograph, etc; also link to the 2007 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines
viewtopic.php?p=61827#p61827
-- includes VASG info on bupe, link to the Winn gabapentin study news, a gabapentin dose (compounded) being used by a CRF civie-mom*, notes from a Penn Vet Confc last yr, and a link to Dr Lisa post re: tramadol cautions
*note* about the dosing and concentration used by the CRF listmember in my post (Carolyn and I are members of the feline-crf-info yahoo list)...
Laura described Seth's dose (I think was made from 100mg gabapentin mixed in VAL syrup):
"...Our vet compounds this for us, and it 50mg/ml gabapentin, crushed and mixed into 10cc Val syrup. The doseage is 0.2 ml by mouth, once a day..."
After re-reading, I'm pretty sure she meant to say that she gets a 10 ml vial of syrup that is
compounded at a concentration of 50 mg/ml. (if 50 mg/ml were mixed w/ 10 ml syrup, I think it would be diluted to 1/10th strength). If my math is right, at a 50 mg/ml concentration, her 0.2 ml dose is 10 mg, which if given 1x/day, is ~ half the VASG's minimum starting dose for a 10 lb. cat (2 mg/kg BID).
Some notes from the VASG website:
http://www.vasg.org/newer_options_for_c ... ment_2.htm
http - www - (vasg.org/newer_options_for_chronic_pain_management_2.htm)
http://www.vasg.org/chronic_pain_management.htm
>> Gabapentin - use alone or adjunct;
Possible side effects - weight gain, transient sedation;
Particularly effective in neuropathic pain and cancer related pain [and arthritis];
Dosed at 2 to 5 mg/kg BID PO;
Due to xylitol content, the 50mg/ml liquid not recommended;
Partially metabolized by liver; excreted unchanged by kidneys; dose reduction for renal patients;
Short half life; fast clearance, requires frequent dosing;
---> (so if had an adverse reaction, the drug might clear from body quickly)
Oral antacids may decrease the bioavailability of gabapentin, so should be given at least two hours apart
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If you end up using a med that only comes in small tablets that need to be cut up, it can be tricky to do it accurately. Here's an excerpt from an IBD article, that describes one vet's method for accurate low dosing with a "human-sized" med:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Intestinal Lymphoma in Cats
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Pr ... R00427.htm
http - www - (vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00427.htm)
"... Azathioprine is currently only available as 50 mg tablets. The low dosage used in cats requires that the tablet be broken into small fragments (i.e., 1/30 - 1/50 tablet depending on body weight). Since this is a very inaccurate and potentially dangerous way of administering azathioprine to cats, this drug must be administered in suspension form.
I have used a preparation which allows for accurate dosing of azathioprine and less chance of accidental toxicity. A 50 mg tablet is pulverized and mixed in 15 ml of V.A.L. Syrup (Ft. Dodge Laboratories). This is a flavored vitamin preparation which is quite palatable to most cats. Powdered medication mixes well with the syrup and does not seem to precipitate out appreciably. The dosage in ml is then calculated based on the cat's body weight (e.g., 0.33 ml once every 48 hours for an 8 pound cat). The client is instructed to shake the medication well before administering it. Alternatively, a suspension preparation can be made by a compounding pharmacy service. A major advantage of administering azathioprine in this manner is that any required increase in dosage can be done very accurately. ..."
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I only come around occasionally, but all the sugarcats and their civie families are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope this helps a bit
Deb, angel Evie, and the boys (civies)
