Mirtazapine Users?

[taomom]

To those of you who have used mirtazapine appetite stimulant for your cats, I have a few questions for you:

1) Did you need this drug to use as appetite stimulant because your cat was diagnosed with a disease or was it just because your cat was elderly and loss its appetite?

2) How many times per week did you give this drug and for how many years?

3) When did the drug stop working? 

 

[foxxycat]

I only used for my Honeybee because she got a horrible URI (upper resp infection) and wouldn't eat.

I only needed it for a few days.

Each dose lasts 3 to 4 days so we only had to give it 3 times=9 days total.

I didn't notice it stop working as she finally got over her cold and eat on her own.

 

[mukkia]

I used Mirtazapine for Mukkia due to an unknown illness. Initially, he was given 1/4 of a 15 milligram tablet once every 72 hours. I did this for a total of four doses. I stopped him on the fourth dose due to adverse side effects. Then I was told to give him 1/8 of a tablet, to see if it stopped the adverse effects. I only gave him one dose like that, because he began to eat on his own. I am not sure if you are aware of this, but if the medication does not continue to work you can ask your veterinarian for another type of appetite stimulant. Cyproheptadine is another option.

red top rescue Would be an excellent person to talk with you about this![emoji]128568[/emoji]

 

[artiemom]

I had used Mirtz successfully for Artie, several years ago. It was 1/4 pill every 3-4 days. He was 8 years old at the time and had lost his appetite. 

Artie was eventually diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 

Before the diagnosis, when he was having another bout of decreased appetite; we tried the mitz again. 

This time, the reaction he had was horrible;  restlessness ~~~~ back and forth, sit down, back and forth, lie down, go lick some food, wash up, lie down, back and forth, etc....a vicious cycle...

He was so wound up. It was then that I discovered most cats have this reaction to Mirtz. The nickname for it is "Meowzipine"... makes them very vocal also.

It does help their appetite, however, I am not giving it to my guy anymore. He is too hyper from this drug. I even tried a compounded solution and cut the dose in 1/2 again, down to 1/8 the dose. It was still too much..

Hope this helps...

 

[red top rescue]

@Red Top Rescue Would be an excellent person to talk with you about this![emoji]128568[/emoji]

Actually, I wouldn't be.  I have never used "Meowzapine."  I have used Cyproheptadine, but that was many years ago, on a cat who had dry FIP and we didn't know what it was.  It helped, I guess.  He would cycle from OK to not OK and did this for nearly a year until Not OK became the only way of being and so sadly put him to sleep.  The vet wanted to do a post exam to see if he could find out what was wrong with him, and that was how the dry FIP was diagnosed, post mortem. 

 

[mukkia]

Actually, I wouldn't be.  I have never used "Meowzapine."  I have used Cyproheptadine, but that was many years ago, on a cat who had dry FIP and we didn't know what it was.  It helped, I guess.  He would cycle from OK to not OK and did this for nearly a year until Not OK became the only way of being and so sadly put him to sleep.  The vet wanted to do a post exam to see if he could find out what was wrong with him, and that was how the dry FIP was diagnosed, post mortem. 

Oh okay. I didn't know. I knew that you helped me with my Mirtazapine fiasco. The situation was a bit different though.

 

[ruthm]

My Tiger, at age 17 1/2  was given Mirtazapine when she was first hospitalized with Feline Hyperthyroid/Feline Diabetes as she had stopped eating and was near the point of developing ketoacidosis. It made her nervous and restless so we switched her to Cyproheptadine.

 My kitten Buster also became very ill and stopped eating when he was 10 months old. He also was given  one dose of Mirtz, but it was then that I learned why it is called MEOW-Zapine!! He lost his voice from crying incessantly!!  It made him super loud and hyperactive and that was just a tiny crumb of the pill!  No more mirtz for my kitties. I have compounded chicken flavored Cyproheptadine and a supply of Cerenia and Ondansetron for anti-nausea just in case because I would never give an appetite stimulant without anti-nausea first.

 

[jenny82]

I've used mirtazapine for both my cats, one has kidney disease and one has IBD. They each only had 1/4-1/8 pill every 3-4 days a couple of times (at different times) and then their appetites came back. It did make both of them pretty vocal. It also seemed to make them a little anxious as they both wanted to cuddle with me more, so I tried to do that as much as possible. I noticed the effects would last about 2 days. It did help with appetite so I would use it again if I needed to. I think 1/8 pill is plenty for the drug to work.

 

[taomom]

I've used mirtazapine for both my cats, one has kidney disease and one has IBD. They each only had 1/4-1/8 pill every 3-4 days a couple of times (at different times) and then their appetites came back. It did make both of them pretty vocal. It also seemed to make them a little anxious as they both wanted to cuddle with me more, so I tried to do that as much as possible. I noticed the effects would last about 2 days. It did help with appetite so I would use it again if I needed to. I think 1/8 pill is plenty for the drug to work.

When did their appetites come back? After a couple of weeks or months?

 

[jenny82]

With Chessy (who has kidney disease) his appetite came back a few hours after Mirtazapine, and then he continued eating.

With Mia (who has IBD), she wouldn't eat on her own for several weeks, and I think it was really the Prednisolone (steroid) that helped her start eating again, rather than the Mirtazapine.  Or maybe it was the combination of the two.  She just started eating again one day after being on the steroid for a little over a week.

 

[taomom]

I used Mirtazapine for Mukkia due to an unknown illness. Initially, he was given 1/4 of a 15 milligram tablet once every 72 hours. I did this for a total of four doses. I stopped him on the fourth dose due to adverse side effects. Then I was told to give him 1/8 of a tablet, to see if it stopped the adverse effects. I only gave him one dose like that, because he began to eat on his own. I am not sure if you are aware of this, but if the medication does not continue to work you can ask your veterinarian for another type of appetite stimulant. Cyproheptadine is another option.

I give my cat 1/8 of a tablet and it works, so far no side effect.Isn't mirtazapine better than cyproheptadine? I heard cypro makes the cat sleepy

 

[mukkia]

I give my cat 1/8 of a tablet and it works, so far no side effect.Isn't mirtazapine better than cyproheptadine? I heard cypro makes the cat sleepy

It really just depends on what your veterinarian's protocol for your specific kitty is. You could ask your veterinarian any questions or concerns about the medication he/she has prescribed. I'm sorry I cannot answer this question for you.

 

[ginny]

I've not used Mirtazipine for cats.  But I would like to make a comment.  Firstly, all drugs are inherently dangerous.  That's why they are usually only administered and overseen by MD's or Vets.  OTC drugs also have many side effects.  Just look up the ones for Tylenol.  Tylenol can kill you, if you take too much of it.  I recall years and years ago, one woman overdosed on it.  She died a terrible death 8 days later from liver failure.  

Drugs force the body to do something, like eat, when it doesn't want to, for some other reason or reasons.  If that reason or cause is known, such as in the case of URI, then a very temporary use in a very small dose is ok.  But even then, just because a drug might be well prescribed for only a few days does not mean the drug isn't dangerous.  Look up the side effects for this drug, which include grand mal seizures.  All drugs have side effects.  Scroll down to Adverse Reactions:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine

Also there are long-term reactions which may not even be known yet.  This drug supposedly came off patent in 2004.  But as you see, there are many side effects.  You as a consumer, and as a pet parent need to be fully informed about these side effects.  Ask your vet about the side effects.  Not all vets, even ones who seem to be good ones at first, know how to correctly prescribe.  We've all learned only too well from certain members here and their experiences.  

Personally, I would look for a vet who isn't so quick with the Rx pad.  One who looks for the cause of any problem.  Drugs never cure, they only manage illness, poorly, with tons of side effects that in turn require more drugs.  Sure, any drug might quickly "fix" a problem.  But what other problems is this same drug causing?   Even so, I would never instruct anyone else to not follow their doctor's advice (or Vet's advice) OR stop taking any medications you might be on right now.  That's dangerous too!  

 

[stephenq]

 
To those of you who have used mirtazapine appetite stimulant for your cats, I have a few questions for you:

1) Did you need this drug to use as appetite stimulant because your cat was diagnosed with a disease or was it just because your cat was elderly and loss its appetite?

2) How many times per week did you give this drug and for how many years?

3) When did the drug stop working? 

May we ask why you're asking?  Is your cat ill, not eating?  When mertazapine works it usually works very quickly (same day or next day).

 

[donutte]

The first time I used mirt, it was when Sara's T4 had spiked to 21, and she actually LOSES her appetite when it does that. It took a couple doses for her to start eating on her own. I think I may have given her a third dose but can't remember now, that was over a year ago.

I used it with Lucky when he was diagnosed with acute on chronic renal failure. The first time I used it, it worked, but only that first day really. I think for the next few days he had an on/off appetite, even after the next dose of mirt. It did not work at all after that (but that was probably because his levels continued to get worse over the next two weeks). We tried cyproheptadine but only gave him two doses before deciding to put him to sleep after his next blood results came back.

It didn't work with Sara at all when I gave it to her a couple Fridays back. Come to find out she actually had acute on chronic renal failure herself, so the next day started her on cyproheptadine. It took several days (and a lot of other things in addition to the cypro) before she ate on her own again. I missed a dose of it yesterday morning and when she got it yesterday evening, the difference was noticeable. She was quite hungry last night after not eating at all the whole day!

So, it really depends on your cat. If the side effects get to be too much, or if the mirt doesn't seem to be working at all, then ask the vet about cyproheptadine. If it seems to be working only a little bit, and the side effects are not too bad, give it at least one more dose.


And why are you giving appetite stimulant btw? Is it for illness or just lack of appetite?

 

[taomom]

May we ask why you're asking?  Is your cat ill, not eating?  When mertazapine works it usually works very quickly (same day or next day).

Last month , based on my cat's ultrasound and bloodwork vet said he might have pancreatitis and/or IBD. He ate normally for a couple of weeks, now he has loss of appetite again, vet prescribed this mirtazapine in case that happens. Its working, and he is peeing and pooping regularly so far.

 

[taomom]

The first time I used mirt, it was when Sara's T4 had spiked to 21, and she actually LOSES her appetite when it does that. It took a couple doses for her to start eating on her own. I think I may have given her a third dose but can't remember now, that was over a year ago.

I used it with Lucky when he was diagnosed with acute on chronic renal failure. The first time I used it, it worked, but only that first day really. I think for the next few days he had an on/off appetite, even after the next dose of mirt. It did not work at all after that (but that was probably because his levels continued to get worse over the next two weeks). We tried cyproheptadine but only gave him two doses before deciding to put him to sleep after his next blood results came back.

It didn't work with Sara at all when I gave it to her a couple Fridays back. Come to find out she actually had acute on chronic renal failure herself, so the next day started her on cyproheptadine. It took several days (and a lot of other things in addition to the cypro) before she ate on her own again. I missed a dose of it yesterday morning and when she got it yesterday evening, the difference was noticeable. She was quite hungry last night after not eating at all the whole day!

So, it really depends on your cat. If the side effects get to be too much, or if the mirt doesn't seem to be working at all, then ask the vet about cyproheptadine.

May I ask how old were your cats when they were diagnosed with renal failure?

 

[taomom]

0401161121_HDR.jpg

• taomom
• Apr 1, 2016

This is him after eating breakfast, see the belly shaved from ultrasound

 

[stephenq]

Last month , based on my cat's ultrasound and bloodwork vet said he might have pancreatitis and/or IBD. He ate normally for a couple of weeks, now he has loss of appetite again, vet prescribed this mirtazapine in case that happens. Its working, and he is peeing and pooping regularly so far.

Ah thank you for that.  I have had a lot of experience sadly with both of those illnesses and there are a lot of threads you can search and read for both, especially IBD.  There are a lot of things and therapies you can do for both, especially IBD, but the first defense besides watching for and dealing with symptoms imo is getting a baby scale to track your cat's weight.  When IBD gets really serious you will see weight loss and if you weigh your cat once or twice a week and keep a written log, you will see weight loss on the scale way before you would be able to see it visually i the cat, allowing you to intervene faster.  
Feel free to ask questions and search for IBD threads.  Pancreatitis is easier to diagnose if the cat is having a flare up (usually lots of vomiting) by taking the cat straight into the vet while ill and having a fPLI test run.http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...ancreatic-lipase-immunoreactivity-in-cats/362

A couple good articles on IBD at http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2122&aid=304 and http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_ibd.cfm

stephen

 

[donutte]

May I ask how old were your cats when they were diagnosed with renal failure?

Of the recent ones, Lucky was 16. He was put to sleep on November 12 of last year, sixteen days after his diagnosis. Sara just turned 14 the beginning of last month. She was diagnosed with very early-stage CKD back in December, but then the acute on chronic aspect came up just a couple weeks ago. In fact, just took her in today to get a check up and followup blood work done.