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How do you quarter a Pepcid AC?

post #1 of 16
3/25/10 at 10:05am
Thread Starter 
Sven has a UTI and is on Clavamox, which upsets his tummy, so he's also on Pepcid AC. Trouble is, I can't figure out how to quarter the Pepcid AC pill to give him just 1/4 at a time!! The pill is square, and even though I have a pill cutter, it isn't working since the pill isn't scored . So far I have just tried crushing it and quartering the powder, although I haven't been able to crush it completely and am sure I'm not dividing it equally.

I think from reading that lots of you have given your kitties Pepcid AC, so am hoping you have some tricks of the trade.

Thanks in advance!!
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post #2 of 16
3/25/10 at 10:08am
They should change the antibiotic.
There are many other antibiotics that might help your cat.
Coco had UTI's for over 2 years until she was put on Baytril.
My Coco does not get clavamox because it makes her sick.
I get the Pepcid that is a compounded into a liquid.
You can ask the vet about it.
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post #3 of 16
3/25/10 at 10:09am
I use a pill splitter to cut it in half, then break the half piece in half with my fingers.

The secret to using a pill splitter on an unscored pill:

Make sure the blade is clean, wipe it with a bit of paper towel. Put the pill in. Let it sit for a few minutes so any moisture from your hand evaporated.

Now the key part to splitting a pill without crushing it: you have to slam your hand down on the splitter sharply and quickly to get a good clean split. Practice hitting your fist on the counter, a quick thump. Then do that with the splitter.
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post #4 of 16
3/25/10 at 10:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
I use a pill splitter to cut it in half, then break the half piece in half with my fingers.

The secret to using a pill splitter on an unscored pill:

Make sure the blade is clean, wipe it with a bit of paper towel. Put the pill in. Let it sit for a few minutes so any moisture from your hand evaporated.

Now the key part to splitting a pill without crushing it: you have to slam your hand down on the splitter sharply and quickly to get a good clean split. Practice hitting your fist on the counter, a quick thump. Then do that with the splitter.


and for a little humor ... you do it very carefully
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post #5 of 16
3/25/10 at 10:39am
I usually don't break/crush them too badly with a pill cutter

For one of Scully's meds, he needed 1/6th of a pill and the pharmacist cut them for me, so you could always ask if you are worried about giving more, but its rare you manage perfect 1/4s of a pill so even crushed, I figure its not a huge deal if its slightly over/under each time
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post #6 of 16
3/25/10 at 12:23pm
Thread Starter 
thanks, everyone. I'll try using the pill splitter again with a quick "chop" (after cleaning the blade), then put it into his pill pocket along with the clavamox. Those pill pockets are the greatest thing since sliced bread!!

As far as getting another prescription, he was on a different one, which was liquid, and he spewed it right out. I guess it's because he is so used to his liquid glucosamine mixed with Miralax that when we shot something else into his mouth, which was kind of thick and sticky (yuck) he freaked and said "no way". That's why we switched, and the Vet said this was her choice for the best for UTIs. We'll ask about Baytril, though, next time he's in, since he's a Kidney patient, and we'll be expecting more and more of these as time progresses.
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post #7 of 16
3/25/10 at 4:17pm
If you keep having problems splitting the pills you could ask your vet or your local pharmacy what type of pill splitter they use for tiny pills. Often people have to get pills that are tiny and rather crumbly (generics can be worse for that) split for them by the pharmacy. You could always try asking if they would do that, and put the pill pieces in a bottle for you, for a small fee.

Your vet may even be able to write the prescription out for you to have filled by a regular pharmacy - likely being cheaper than buying it off the shelf since you won't be paying for the packaging.
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post #8 of 16
3/25/10 at 4:19pm
Hi! I just recently bought the pepcid and the original strength 10mg pills were square, which made quartering them really easy. I made sure to use a regular household knife without a serated edge, just a plain ol straight edge. I lined it up best I could and pressed down with even pressure to cut it in half, did the same thing to cut it into quarters. I had no crushing but I used a very sharp knife (It's kind of large too we use it to cut veggies)
It cut perfectly! But a pill cutter may work even better (I've never used one)
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post #9 of 16
3/25/10 at 5:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post
thanks, everyone. I'll try using the pill splitter again with a quick "chop" (after cleaning the blade), then put it into his pill pocket along with the clavamox. Those pill pockets are the greatest thing since sliced bread!!

As far as getting another prescription, he was on a different one, which was liquid, and he spewed it right out. I guess it's because he is so used to his liquid glucosamine mixed with Miralax that when we shot something else into his mouth, which was kind of thick and sticky (yuck) he freaked and said "no way". That's why we switched, and the Vet said this was her choice for the best for UTIs. We'll ask about Baytril, though, next time he's in, since he's a Kidney patient, and we'll be expecting more and more of these as time progresses.

I'm not sure, but I think you should not give the pepcid WITH the clavamox. The pepcid may interfere with the absorption of the medicine.

Give the pepcid an hour before or an hour after the clavamox. Give the clavamox with food.
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post #10 of 16
3/25/10 at 5:44pm
Pepcid is usually given with other medication because it doesn't inhibit like other H2 receptor antagonists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famotidine

Amoxicillin seems to metabolize on CYP2D6, 2C9, 2C19, and 1A2? In which case another H2 receptor antagonist, like ranitidine, would inhibit on 2D6. In cats it could be slightly different, but the vet wouldn't have prescribed it if it would have caused a problem.

If in doubt, chat with your pharmacist, amoxicillin clavulanate is a common human med and they have to help a lot of people with balancing H2 receptor antagonists in with their other meds.
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post #11 of 16
3/25/10 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Pepcid is usually given with other medication because it doesn't inhibit like other H2 receptor antagonists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famotidine

Amoxicillin seems to metabolize on CYP2D6, 2C9, 2C19, and 1A2? In which case another H2 receptor antagonist, like ranitidine, would inhibit on 2D6.
Thank you! I wasn't sure, so thought I'd mention it. Glad you knew the answer!

(though I don't know what any of those number/letter combinations mean)
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post #12 of 16
3/25/10 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
Thank you! I wasn't sure, so thought I'd mention it. Glad you knew the answer!

(though I don't know what any of those number/letter combinations mean)
Cytochrome P450! I suggest everyone do some reading on this and check any med coming into your home - prescription and OTC, for human or animal. Doctors and pharmacists can miss drug interaction, especially if it's an uncommon drug that doesn't have a lot of information readily available. I've already been through one drug inaction that could have been prevented by not combining a 2D6 inhibitor with a drug that metabolized on 2D6, so now I check everything.

Aside from that, I took various H2-receptor antagonists for years and know what not to mix with what.
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post #13 of 16
3/26/10 at 6:39am
Those pills sure are tiny! When Riley was taking 1/4 of a tablet I just used a small sharp kitchen knife to cut them. I felt like I had a bit more control that way than with the pill cutter.

I agree about the pill pockets They are Riley's favorite treat and he doesn't even realize there is a prednisolone pill in them.
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post #14 of 16
3/26/10 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
I used a sharp tap on the pill splitter today on the square Pepcid AC, and it worked very well to chop it in half. Then I tried to break the halves in half with my fingers, and couldn't do it, so put them back into the pill splitter and they came out pretty good. (One piece is a little bigger, so I'll give that one to him this evening, since Ive read too much can make them lethargic). Maybe I'll try using my Chef's knife next time and see what happens (after I sharpen it up!)

Gosh, Strangewings, you're very well informed! As we all should be.

And Otto, I WISH I could give the clavamox with food, but Sven is a very picky eater, absolutely refuses to eat any type of wet food, including baby food, but at least he gets a Greenie Pill Pocket with it. He's in the beginning stages of kidney disease, so I hate to give him too many treats, but he does like Temptations and Whiska Lickins. I guess I can give him a small handfull of those after he gets his pill. Hey, aren't you the one who said you thought those Butler Nutrisentials Tartar Control Treats had pretty good ingredients in them? Wonder if they are ok for beginning CRF cats? I was thinking about buying a 10 or 20 pack on Amazon today. (I've got 4 cats, so am sure they won't get wasted)
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post #15 of 16
3/26/10 at 2:24pm
I didn't mean give the medicine in the food, (not many self respecting cats would tolerate that)

I just meant be sure to feed him at clavamox time. Kibble is fine.

I've never used any sort of commercial treats for my cats so can't really comment on the appropriateness of any.

Glad you had better luck splitting the pepcid.
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post #16 of 16
3/26/10 at 4:16pm
I'm just giving Sherman some of his dry food as a treat after he takes his antibiotic - he doesn't know the difference between treat and food. I have to be careful what I give him right now.

But, there are some freeze dried treats and the Wellness ones that are very simple treats if you're looking for a treat that may not cause any sort of issues.
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