ATTENTION PHIL RE: methylprenisolone

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

fuga =^o^= - 03 Feb 2004 15:45 GMT

Phil,

Do you know if the methylprenisolone will be as effective for pain
management for a cat suffering from arthritis, spondylyosis in the spine and
constipation ? Fuga was diagnosed with beginning stages of kidney failure
two years ago. Recently his T4 is starting to climb and is not elevated
enough to treat (around 54, vet said they don't want to treat it until it's
around 100).

Currently we are managing Fuga's treatment with predisone, cisapride (for
constipation), lactulose and cosequin.

Thanks..

Fuga

Reply to this Message

Phil P - 05 Feb 2004 18:42 GMT

> Phil,

Hi Sharon,

> Do you know if the methylprenisolone will be as effective for pain
> management for a cat suffering from arthritis, spondylyosis in the spine and
> constipation ?

I'm not a proponent of chronic, long term use of injectable glucocorticoids.
The safest, and most accurate and therapeutic way to administer
gluco?corticoids chronically is by short-acting oral formulations. Its
simple, it doesn't add to the stress by requiring an office visit - therapy
can be more closely regulated - but most importantly, the drug can be
withdrawn quick if the cat develops an adverse reaction or undesirable side
effects.

Fuga was diagnosed with beginning stages of kidney failure

> two years ago.

When did Fuga begin prednisone therapy?

Recently his T4 is starting to climb and is not elevated

> enough to treat (around 54, vet said they don't want to treat it until it's
> around 100)

If Fuga was taking prednisone (or any glucocorticoid) when he had his
thyroid function tested, you should have his thyroid function retested again
with another tT4 assay >> followed by a Free T4 by Equilibrium Dialysis
(fT4ED) assay. The reason for the additional fT4ED assay is because
glucocorticoids suppress T4. Just a single dose of prednisolone can
decrease T4 concentrations for at least 24 to 48 hours. Also, an underlying
disease or concurrent condition can also depress or alter T4 - So my guess
is the results of his last thyroid assay probably isn't a very accurate
assessment of his true thyroid function.

The fT4ED only costs ~$20 and requires only a routine blood sample -- so
don't get nervous about the name "Equilibrium Dialysis"! ;) When people
hear "Free T4 by Equilibrium Dialysis" some erroneously think their cats
need to be put on a dialysis machine for the test! Not so - *Only* the
blood sample is dialyzed before its assayed - not the cat! ;)

> Currently we are managing Fuga's treatment with predisone, cisapride (for
> constipation), lactulose and cosequin.

Where are you getting cisapride from? ;} Are you sure his constipation
isn't physiologic? Constipation tends to be self-?perpetuating in cats -
The hard, dry stools are painful and difficult to pass, so the cat
*voluntarily* inhibits defecation -- which perpetuates itself with harder
and drier stools until the cat becomes obstipated.
.
Good luck.

Phil

> Thanks..
>
> Fuga

Reply to this Message

fuga =^o^= - 05 Feb 2004 20:35 GMT

> When did Fuga begin prednisone therapy?

He's been on it about a year. Prior to this we were able to manage his
arthritis with keeping him regular. I wish there was a better regiment but
we recognize quality of life is important. I am hoping the cosequin which
we started 6 weeks ago will help.

> Recently his T4 is starting to climb and is not elevated
> > enough to treat (around 54, vet said they don't want to treat it until
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> with another tT4 assay >> followed by a Free T4 by Equilibrium Dialysis
> (fT4ED) assay.

I will speak to the vet about doing this when I take him in on the 16th.

> > Currently we are managing Fuga's treatment with predisone, cisapride (for
> > constipation), lactulose and cosequin.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> *voluntarily* inhibits defecation -- which perpetuates itself with harder
> and drier stools until the cat becomes obstipated.

Cisapride is available in Canada. There's a pharmacy near my home which
will ship to the USA if you interested let me know.

Fuga has spondlyosis and the bones in his spine are fusing which make it
very difficult for him to go to the bathroom. So we have to manage the pain
in his spine. We find that sometimes we have to be very insistent with him
on using the litter box otherwise he is likely to avoid going you mention.

Thanks again. I wish we didn't need to use the predisone to manage his pain
but haven't had any luck.

Fuga

Reply to this Message

Rate this thread: