Cats & Mirtazapine (Page 4)

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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Hi, I have recently started using this drug for my 11 lb cat who is on thyroid meds. and stopped eating for some reason. He was originally prescribed 1/4 of a 15mg tablet every 3 days, but I find it lasts just over a week, so I don't give it to him unless he has stopped eating for a day. He seems a little weird the first day, but it really works well with him when needed. He is 16 1/2 years old...

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I just began using this for my 13 year old male kitty - who went from 16 lbs to 11 in about 18 months.... He also endured the loss of his half sister during that time... He's a big cat so his weight loss was noticeable. Our Vet gave us liquid rather than pill because it's easier to give him, and our dosage is only 0.2 ml every third day... Not sure how that computes to tablet! I've only given one dose so far, the next dosage will be on Sunday. Needless to say, Mikey didn't like the taste at all!! His appetite didn't go up but his pickiness sure did! He's had a little bit of several types of kitty food! Will have to sneak the next dosage to get him to take it because it must taste bitter. All of Mikey's tests come back normal so we're thinking it might just be the aging process so we'll try this and see if he can gain about a pound or so.

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Hi, I read your post and I would advise so strongly against this drug. I went to the vet Nov 20 th because I thought my cat was constipated. She was 12 yrs old demestic. The vet looked at her, felt her colon and confirmed that it must be constipation after her blood work came out to be normal. I also told the vet she wasn't eating or drinking much so they perscribed me the mirtazapine and sent me home with fluids. .. I digress but what I'm getting at is the first week was fine. My cat Boo seemed a little out of it ( wasn't jumping or playing as much) second week totally out of it hardly could even walk. Third week couldn't walk at all so I went back to the vet and asked WTF is going on and they suggested I stop using it. 1/4 a tab every 3 days ( twice a week) was what I was told originally. This was when I desided to do some research about this drug. Keep in mind my cat was kinda eating at first but then after the third week didn't eat at all. I asked for perscription food since my cat had no energy, total lathargic, and defiantly not eating. I continued giving her fluids and at this point syringe feeding her the high calorie perscription food. Last night my cat passed away. Sure it could have been maybe a number of other things but I can't see that within 3 wks that my cat went from constipated ( which was resulved with in a few days) to not eating, to not at all walking. I feel that all signs point to this drug. My cat wasn't large, very small, n all I wanted was for her to eat n feel better. Vets are a bunch of crocks. Serious google prob helps more to do some research. Again it's all a guessing game since our fur baby's can't tell us what's wrong but go some other natural route or defiantly a better appitite stimulate than this one. I learned the hard way. I trusted the vet knew what they were doing. They even suggested that I wait a few more days to see if she returns back to herself and drug has completely left her system. This was two days ago and now it's too late. She was breathing very hard and starred into space her last day. I can't fathom what else could have gone wrong when only a few weeks ago her blood work was normal. I don't know for sure if it was this drug n or an overdose since others have found 1/8 of the drug taken maybe once a week worked best for them. Please take in precaution!

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I would like to mention that Mirtazapine is available as a transdermal gel. Our Ickabod was in liver failure and he was skin and bones and his mouth was sore, so I told the vet I didn't want any pills or anything he had to swallow. They gave us the gel in a tube (like a needless syringe). The dosage was 0.2ml every other day. It was applied by rubbing it on the inside of his ear. The vet shaved the inside of one ear so the gel could make good contact with his skin. A couple things to note: The medicine was originally developed for people, so you need to put on surgical gloves to apply it or you will also be getting a dose of the medicine. It is light sensitive, so we stored it inside of a padded envelope in our pantry. I realize that there are concerns with the medicine, but when your animal is possibly dying, you have to make tough choices. I didn't note any adverse reactions to the transdermal gel. I am happy to report that Ickabod start gaining weight after a few weeks on the gel. We discontinued the medicine after about 3 months when his weight came back up to normal. A year later he is as happy and healthy as can be and the vet till doesn't understand how he recovered from liver failure. Hope this info is helpful to my fellow animal lovers out there.

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Same problem with my nearly 16 year old cat. High Thyroid, meds then made it too low. Needed hydration and they gave her this med for appetite stimulation. So far just one dose, was a little chatty afterward, but Vet did warn about this. Don't think I'll give it to her unless she's not eating. If she is, then I'll leave her alone.

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I would like to give an update on my kitty that was given mirtazapine one year ago. She had an extremely adverse effect to the drug so I stopped giving it to her. She was diagnosed with CRF in June of 2012 and had begun to be a picky eater, refusing to eat a certain food after a few weeks. I was running out of foods to try. She refused the prescription food for kidney health. Praise God, I found a food online that is lower in sodium and phosphorous and she loves it. She has been on it for about 7 months now and her appetite is great!

Her BUN and creatinine levels are not in the normal range (a little high), but she is playful, eats well, her coat is soft and shiny and she looks perfectly healthy.

I want to add that she receives 150 ml of sub-q fluids every third day.

I am so thankful that she is doing so well....and wanted to post this update.
.

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My 16 year old too, carrying on like she didn't feel well, threw up. I stopped giving to her, apparently she is sensitive to drugs. Only if she is not eating, will I give it to her again, not worth torturing her.

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Indiana Lady, my two 16 year olds were prescribed 1/4 pill every 72 hours and are responding well. However, I would like to ween them off as they gain back some of their weight. Can you share the name of the food? Mine are on and off picky; fortunately we have one younger indoor/outdoor (kept safe on the porch and his personal pen in the back yard) who is happy to eat what they don't so not much goes to waste. Thanks.

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TampaDaddy, I'm so glad your kitties are doing well on the magazine. You inquired about the food I found online for my kitty. It is called Life's Abundandance. I buy the dry food. It is not prescription food, so the sodium and phosphorous levels are higher than prescription food, but lower than most over the counter cat food.

Check out the website and you can also talk to the vet on staff.

I still think the prescription food is best.....I just couldn't get her to eat it.

Best wishes for you and your cats!

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My cat, Patti, just decided to stop eating several months ago. She began to starve herself. Our vet ran tests and checked her for everything. Except for her anorexia, she was in perfect health. We finally tried Mirtazapine. It seems to have saved her life. She is eating again and gaining her weight back. Her energy has also returned.

There is only one funny side effect: she likes to follow me around everywhere I go now and discuss everything. She seems to want to talk about everything, so that's what we do. I had no idea she was so opinionated.

.

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I don't let my pets suffer. When they get to a certain point. I stop their meds and put them to sleep. I know you all love your pets but sometimes you are being selfish and asking the poor critter to suffer so you can have a little bit of comfort.

I'm sorry to be blunt, but if the pet that you love is suffering, put him/her down and let them rest.

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Yes, I have also learned that lesson, as difficult as it was.

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After reading all the horror stories about this drug I'm afraid to give it to my cat !! The vet just prescribed it for her . Keefe has kidney stones and a slight heart murmur .. SO. What else can I Give her ,, her body has finally started making red blood cells ,, but Now she is hardly eating and I'm just a nervous wreck !!!!!!! Please anyone , what else can I do ,, she is also on flomodine ... Not sure that has really helped this week ... She also had antibiotic shot 9 days ago .... Please HELP .....

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Cheryl,
Yes, there have been horror stories about this drug, as there are with any drug, especially if overprescribed or if the dose is too high. I had to use it for my cat, Patti. (my post is several posts down) It really helped her.... in fact, it may have saved her life. She is back to normal now, except that she sometimes likes to talk a lot, usually on the day I give her her pill. We are giving her just HALF of a 7.5mg tablet every three days. Not all pharmacies carry the 7.5mg size pill. You might have to call around to find it.
I hope that helped.

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I'm so scared to try this drug , I've read about too many cats dying from it . My cat has kidney stones , her bloodwork is k at the moment but she is not eating much .. She has energy , which surprises me since she is not eating that well . There has to be something else I can do for her appetite !!!! Any suggestions . She is a little cat , 15 years old

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I haven't given it to her yet , but the dose given was 1/4 of a 15 mg pill . She is only 7.1 pounds . I'm wondering if that is still too much should I decide to try it .. I'm still very nervous about this med .

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God bless your kitty - hoping she returns to total A1 health!

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Bonnie , how much does your cat weight ?? . My cats weights is up and down between 6.8-7.4.. Right now she is 7.1. I. Was told 1/4 of a 15 m .. Guess that is around 3.75.. But worry that may still be too much for her . I haven't tried it yet but still having issues with her appetite. I think I'm going to ask the vet about trying cerenia first . She has been thru so so much and now is doing good except the appetite .

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My cat weighed about 7.4 pounds at the lowest, but is more now since she started eating again.

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I've used some cat toppers beef/chicken and she ate decent amount yesterday and so far today has been fairly good . Hopefully this will continue to work ..

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