Cats & Mirtazapine (Page 3)

Our 13 year old Maine Coon mix is in the last stages of renal failure. We didn't know anything was wrong until about a month ago when she stopped eating. It's been up and down ever since her diagnosis. Our vet prescribed Mirtazapine but, after reading the many negative comments, we put off giving it to her as long as we could. We finally had to because the effects of not eating in cats are liver shutdown and death. She's had no serious adverse reaction to Mirtazapine, and it has definitely helped her appetite. It is buying her a little more quality time with us.

I certainly wouldn't use or give this drug lightly, but as some posters have noted, in the end it's a risk v.s benefit judgment call.

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I agree it is SO much easier smashing or dissolving meds, mixing with 1-2cc of water, and injecting into mouth with syringe. My cat has IBD, and normally I can just smash his pregnisone into tuna juice and he laps it up. However he recently came down with liver and gall bladder problems, lack of appetite, and therefor the need to force the meds.

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Hi Valrie, If your cat is taking Prednisone in the tablet form and it is hard to give to the cat ,Your Vetinarian can prescribe the liquid form which is Prednisolone.It cost just a little bit more but it comes in flavors and you get an applicator which is easy to get the liquid to the cat or Dog.
The Vet call in the order for us and we picked it up at CVS

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try some collodail silver or homapathic new era tablets i use both myself and on my cat helps more and cheaper than the vets and safer

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My 7lb. indoor cat was bitten by my other indoor cat. An abscess formed. The Vet prescribed amoxicillin 50ms twice daily/ 14 days. on 6th day, she started ith massive diarrhea. I had to take her to emergency specialist. She had lost all the normal bacteria from her bowel due to overdose of antibiotics.
The specialist Vet dozed her with Mirtazapine half tab of a 7.5 mg pill used for appetite stimulant. Yesterday she displayed wobbly hind legs and seemed slightly disoriented.
Appetite has increased, but, very lethargic. I have to administer Subcutaneous fluids twice daily.
I called the Vet, he had no idea what caused the problem with her hind legs.
Since reading your post, seems she may have had a mini stroke. I have discontinued the drug.
O/T
Have read that some of you have cats with CRF.
My sister's 15 year old cat was diagnosed 4 years ago with CRF. The Vet prescribed FORTEKOR. This drug is given to humans, also dogs too. It has transformed her cats life in that the drug delayed any more damage to her kidneys. She eats and drinks water well, her coat is magnificent and she will be 20 this year thanks to Fortekor.

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What's a GMO?

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for tazzi's owners, for the kidneys, go to herbalhealer and order asparagus extract, it is a kidney detox and works well, also astros crf oil out of canada for kidney disease, natural meds. i have cured a few cats on this, but the kidneys were not in renal failure, it is worth a try and not contidictive to any allopathic meds. jacque

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My Tequila 17 1/2, began to experience weight loss and a complete lack of interest in eating. I tried ever delicious flavor of food, baked her turkey legs, used the water from tuna cans to add some interest. Fur was dull, and she was hiding in dark cubby holes. Turns out she has chronic pancreatitis and a cyst or abscess on her pancreas (she also had chronic kidney failure but it is well monitored and under control). Aside from the medications for the pancreatitis (metrodinazole) sh was started on 3mg capsul of Mirtazapine every 3 days. I was initially concerned by the "talking", and her ears feel quite warm to me, it lasts about 12 hours and she seems to settle. In the 2 weeks since she started taking it I've noticed a huge change. Glossy and soft fur again, increased activity (cat nip mice are no longer safe) and she feels very solid when I pick her up, instead of frail. I do know that she is 17 1/2 and I'm very lucky to have her, at this rate I'm hoping she'll be hassling me til she's 20! I appreciate reading others' experiences with the medication.

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My (fixed) 13 year old PAWS cat has been terrorized by a large neighborhood unfixed male, and began vomiting food (wet and dry) as soon as she'd eaten. The vet said it was accumulated stress (the bullying has been going on for months, we've tried everything to catch this very smart cat, to no avail) and put her on Mirtazapine. For the first time in ages she actually asked for some food, then ate it, cleaned herself and promptly went to sleep. I'm hoping that with Calm dry food and plenty of Feliway the stress will recede and she'll get back to normal. Any suggestions for getting rid of the bully would be gratefully received, also any comments on using Mirtazapine for what length of time - the 'script says every 72 hours. But every 72 hours for what period of time? The written-about side effects sound horrendous, and she has enough trouble without getting sick from the side effects.

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I have just started my cat on Mirtazapine as his appetite has gone way down since he has been on Thyroid medication. He has also started a new diet for GI problems. I was wondering what side effects to watch for on the Mirtazapine...thanks

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In October I left a post asking how for how long Mirtazapine should be given, but haven't really read a clear response. Maybe it's me. My cat is now on a half-dose (1.75) as she began staggering a lot on the higher dose and the vet halfed it. But she is still manic on day one, stoned out of her mind on day two and miserable on day three. She does eat well for days one and two, and is drinking a lot of water, which is good for her kidneys, I know. But she hates being so stoned, and now I'm wondering about this quality of life -v- prescription drugs thing. She doesn't play anymore, doesn't do much other than eat, drink and sleep, and she seems so terribly sad. How long should I give the Mirtazapine? Is this making her life worse or better? I so want her to be happy again, which she patently isn't...

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@ JAY - My Tequila will be 18 in May, so in her case I think the Mirtazapine is going to be for the rest of her life. Originally she was getting a 3 mg capsule every 3 days. I extended it to every 4 days, and could probably even do it every 5. She gained a pound in the 6 weeks following her starting the medication - and maintained her weight. I'm pretty happy with it. She may be a lucky cat because her symptoms (talking and waking up a lot) only last about 12 hours. If your kitty (who at 13 is still a youngster :) ) is not doing well or you think she's not happy talk to the vet about alternatives. I think you posted that she had been bullied and that can cause terrible anxiety which just reeks havoc on the body. There are many alternatives. Good luck! I hope you find something that works for your kitty.

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Sarah, thank you so much for responding so quickly. I have asked my vet for an alternative, but he just suggested halving the original dose, which I did, but she's still so miserable on it. Think I'll just ask again and be annoying! Glad Tequila is doing well - and at such a grand age: 90 human years! At 70 my Victoria is just a, well, a kitten! Thanks again. Jay

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I live in Spain and have a 14 year old Maine coon who is not eating unless I give him food on my fingers and before that I was force feeding him with a syringe. I am interested in mirtazapine and wonder if I can get it here.

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Mirtazapine is also called Remeron, Avanza and Zispin. It might go by that name instead in Spain.

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My 7 year old Kitty has CRF. She is a picky eater so I got mirzatapine as an appetite stimulatent. The vet prescribed 1/2 of a 15 Mg tablet. She started crying, trembling, her eyes showed the 3rd eyelid and in general acted strange. After a couple of hours she vomited what looked like the entire contents if her stomach.

My question is: do you think she was given too large of a dose? She only weighs about 6 1/2 lbs.

Also, I noticed most of the posts indicate a dose of 1/4 or 1/8 tablet. How do you split such a small tablet into 1/4 or 1/8?

Thanks for any help!

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Has anyone used mirtazapine long term, like for 5 years or so?

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That seems like a pretty high dose. Mine gets a 3mg capsule every 4 days. I would double check with your vet. The talking is pretty common (mine does it for about 12 hours), but that it caused her to vomit is not right. I would hold off on any more until you've talked to the vet.

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Sarah, thanks for replying. I talked to the vet about the dosage and side effects while my poor kitty was acting so sick. She told me that the 7.5 mg dosage was pretty standard and none of the cats they treated with mirtazapine had any adverse effects.

I still think that 7.5 mg is too much. I think I'll ask the vet about a lower dose because my kitty is such a picky eater.

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Indiana Lady, unless your cat is as big as a horse 7.5 mg seems like an awful lot. My vet halved his initial prescription because my 8 lb cat was so sick - now she takes 1.75 mg every 72 hours and she's fine, if a little manic the first day, when she talks a lot the entire morning. Maybe you should get another vet's opinion?
Hope it all works out okay...

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Jay, thanks for your input. It confirms my fears that she was given MUCH to large of a dose. I'll confer again with the vet regarding giving my cat a much lower dose. I WILL NOT give her anything larger than a 3 mg dose.

P.S. what causes all the talking when they first take the drug?

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