Prayers and healing purrs from Memphis and Phoenix. hope he is feeling
better soon.

Ask your vet for the chewable chicken flavored ones. Your cat will
actually look forward to it.

-mhd

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From: "ElvisRocks" <elvisrocks1@comcast.net>

Hi Carol. It's "Wiz" from a.s.g.p-l. My MIT E-mail address is still hit or miss
so this is my alternative posting method.
I missed your first post here and went back to look after I read this.
I must say, I'm very concerned about Elvis, myself. I'd be a wreck, too, watching
him eating well and still losing weight.
Fission and Ebony were both on Tapazole for many years. They both were taking
5 mg a day, like Evis, but they were getting it as 1/2 pill, twice a day. You
may want to ask the vet if you can split it up to twice a day as it keeps a
more even level of medication in his system. If it is a thyroid problem, it'll take
a while to bring the levels back to normal. Have you checked his heart rate
to see if it's going back to normal? That would probably be the first sign
that it's working. Both our girls were a little "off" for a couple weeks when
they started the Tapazole, BTW.
Has the vet checked a stool sample for worms. It's kind of a long shot
since Evis is an indoor cat, but I'd want to rule that out since worms can
significantly diminish the nutrition that he will absorb from the food. Our new
little buddy, TK, had roundworm when we took him in and when we got rid
of those, his weight jumped from 9 1/2 to 14 lbs in a few weeks.
I'd also say, though I'm sure you've at least thought about it, don't be
shy about seeing another vet for a second opinion. Maybe one that specializes
in cats if your current vet does a general practice.
But if things aren't starting to stabilize, I don't think I'd wait another week
before getting him checked.
Hopefully, Phil P. will have some advice for you. He seems to be one of,
if not the, most learned individuals in this group.
But, anyway, I've already said a prayer for Elvis. And for you. also. I know
you must be having some tough months right now. "When it rains, it pours" as
they say.
Please do keep us posted on Elvis's progress. Over the years I feel that
I've gotten to know him and Randi as well as some of the cats in my
neighborhood. Give 'em both a hug for me.

Best wishes,
Wiz

Yes, it can. While most cats tolerate Tapazole quite well, their is a
subset that do get very sick. I had a cat named Zach that suffered
tremendously from Tapazole and I had to take him off it and go straight
for the Radioactive Iodine treatment. If nausea is the only issue you
should ask your vet if you can give your cat Zantac twice a day to help
alleviate it.
Another thing to consider is that the dose may be too high. A more
conservative approach is to start out at 2.5 mg and then increase it if
necessary. I worry about a vet that would just blow you off and tell you
to continue the meds without even suggesting you bring the cat in when
you're that scared about your cat. It might be worthwhile for you to
find a new, better vet that shows more interest in your cats condition.

Megan  

                                   

Yes, some cats don't do well on it. There are a few things you can try:

http://www.felinecrf.org/related_diseases.htm#hyperT_treatments

Incidentally, several cats on the CRF list have done badly on Hi-Vites, and
improved a lot when taken off them. It's anecdotal, but thought I'd mention
it. I'm not clear why Elvis is on them, but you might want to consider
another product instead.

HTH

Helen

The most common adverse effects of Tapazole are vomiting, anorexia and
depression - but not necessarily all three together or at the same time.
Some cats only develop vomiting orthers might only develop depression.
Vomiting and anorexia are the the most common - but that's probably because
of the bitter taste.  Even though these adverse effects are usually only
transient in the first 2 or 3 months, they're still very disturbing.

He's lost so much weight anyway he

You can ask your pharmacist to compound Elvis' prescription into a flavored
suspension or even a transdermal gel that you rub into the inside of Elvis'
earflap.  Just be sure to wear exam gloves so you don't absorb any of the
medication.

The problem with Tapazole is that it takes a week or two or even three weeks
sometimes to take affect.  This presents a problem with Elvis because his T4
levels were in the normal range -  so its gonna be rough gauging the
efficacy of the treatment - other than by observing his behavior.

In my experience, I've found beginning the therapy at sub-therapeutic doses
(i.e., 1.25 mg/b.i.d.) and then gradually increasing the dose to 2.5
mg/s.i.d. in a week or two, then 2.5 mg/AM + 1.25 mg/PM, then 2.5 mg/b.i.d
greatly reduces the chances of the cat developing adverse effects.  I
realize this is a time consuming process and may not appropriate for every
cat.

There is also an alternative to Tapazole, called Carbimazole that produces
fewer and milder adverse effects in cats.  Carbimazole must be obtained
through a compounding pharmacy because its not available commercially in the
US due to a market agreement.  I've had excellent results with Carbimazole.

I really, really suggest you ask you vet to run a free T4 by equilibrium
dialysis assay just in case some other problem is falsely suppressing Elvis'
T4 levels.  The assay costs about $20 bucks.

Best of luck.

Phil.