Prednisolone not available??

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misty8723

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Well DH just told me there is no way he would trust compounding because it's not regulated.  So that being the case, I'll just file it for future reference in case we some day aren't able to get the regular prednisolone - so far it hasn't been an issue.  I just thought maybe if it was something tasty she wouldn't hate taking her pill so much.
 
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jim peterford

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Just an update for everyone. I was able to get prednisolone through Drs Foster and Smiths website. They seem to have gotten a new shipment in. I hope this is a sign that the shortage is over!
 

misty8723

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Yesterday at the cat hospital, they told me that they're starting to get it in, that it was back order for "a long time."  We've been able to get some from them and also from our vet last year.
 

abisiobhan

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I am unsure where you are but know as a physician that some of my patients in Canada are experiencing difficulty having scripts filled because a couple pharmacy vendors have closed notably in the Mtl area. One burned down and another was closed by Big Pharmacy. This no doubt would impact gets as well. Good luck!!
 

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Hey everyone,

I just found this thread while researching prednisolone for cats,

and I joined to post a reply to this thread! :)

We have a cat who has been on prednisolone for several years, its for his asthma..

(it works really well for that! before he was on it, he would have sneezing "fits" that were quite severe..

basically asthma attacks..the prednisolone cleared it right up and he hasnt had an attack since..)

Our vet also told us a month ago (middle of February 2013) that they were out of prednisolone, and they werent sure when, or if, they would be able to get it again! He (our vet) said there is only one factory *in the world* that makes it! and it was in very short supply..(not sure of the exact reason why..)

They were able to get it again! I just picked up a new prescription..

but! the price has *tripled*!

It was $10 for 30 pills..(5mg)

Now its $30 for 30 pills! a dollar a pill..

(looking up prices on-line, im seeing places selling it for about that amount..so it seems thats the new "legit" price,

(and dont forget, we are talking about prednisolone, not prednisone! they arent the same thing! ;)

(Our vet also told us the thing about the difference between prednisolone and prednisone,

and how prednisolone is much better for cats, because of the liver issue, which has been talked about

previously in this thread..IMO thats a real concern, and I would only use prednisolone for my cat..I trust my vet on this..)

Our cat gets a low dose..we give him half a pill every other day..

So 30 pills actually lasts 4 months..

So its $7.5 a month for us now..which is worth it for good kitty health! :)

But I wanted to share my prednisolone experience with everyone..

apparently it is available once again, but the price has jumped..

thanks,

Scot
 
 

coatfetish

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Well, I just called my vet and they STILL say they don't have it. I would gladly pay the new price to not have to force the foul cherry flavored prednisolone liquid down my cat's throat - so stressful for her. She's so easy to pill, she thinks it's a treat! lol

This situation is so very frustrating...
 
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jim peterford

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I was able to finally get some through Drs Foster and Smith's website. You can order it on there and they contact your vet for you for approval. I was able to get 100 pills for like $17 which will last me over a year! Check them out to see if they still have it available. I believe it's the generic form but that is what Noelle has been on from the beginning and it has worked just fine!
 

coatfetish

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Excellent! Thank you for that info - now I only hope they will still have some when I get paid on Wed.
 

barbb

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When I took Toby to the oncologist last, they said it was back in stock again. So the manufacturing is caught up and it is just a matter of orders getting filled. Thank heavens!
 

misty8723

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Our vet also told us a month ago (middle of February 2013) that they were out of prednisolone, and they werent sure when, or if, they would be able to get it again! He (our vet) said there is only one factory *in the world* that makes it! and it was in very short supply..(not sure of the exact reason why..)
 
One thing that I'm curious about.  In November / December we got Prednisolone from our vet.  The tables were smallish round one.  In January / February we got some from the oncologist and they were oblong in shape.  I asked my vet about the difference and she said not to worry about the shape, it was just different manufacturers.  They're both Prednisolone 5 mg.
 

himself

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I found Prednisolone thru Dr. Fosters online. .17 for a 5 mg pill plus shipping.
 

coatfetish

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I ordered mine from Drs Foster & Smith today. It is the first time I've ordered meds online. I stopped by my vets today to see if it was ok just to have the website contact them and they said they do all the time. The tech/receptionist said there should be no problem getting the vet to ok the order. My vet usually does a 60 pill order for me, so I placed a 120 pill order online - that should last close to a year. Right now my cat isn't needing it because her mouth ulcer cleared up (and she's been off the liquid med for a few months now), but I want to have the pills on hand if I need them - the liquid didn't work as she vomited it up 50% of the time.

I asked what the shelf life was on the pills and the tech said at least a year - does that sound right? I don't know about that kind of stuff. When Taz gets the ulcer again (and she will) I will keep her on the prednisolone until it clears, then taper her of over 3 weeks time. I don't want to have her on prednisolone perpetually. I'd like to know the shelf life of the pills for this reason.

 Thanks! (and a big thank you for the heads-up on getting the pills form the website)
 

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Recently, I needed a refill of Prednisolone 5mg. for my adorable cat. This medication has been a life-saver when she suffers from an asthma attack. The tablets are white and circular in shape.

However, once I got the medication home, I realized I had Prednisone 5mg. The tablets are white and oval in shape. The tablets appear to have the letter P and the number 5 on them.

When I called the veterinary clinic, the receptionist felt I still had Prednisolone tablets and attributed the visual differences in tablets to a change in the company that manufactures the drug.

Since Prednisolone has saved the life of my cat on several occasions, I am hesitant to trust the advice of the receptionist. I want to believe her; however, we are talking about a beloved member of my family.

The receptionist understood my feelings, and asked me to bring in both of my prescriptions, so the medications could be verified. I will stop by the clinic tomorrow morning.

Do you have any thoughts and/or concerns about this matter? If so, I would appreciate your time in responding to my email.

Thanks so much!

Rhonda
 

dave630

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My cat Michael has asthma, for years he was on Prednisone and Terbutaline tablets.  But at least once a year he has a major attack and has to spend 2-3 days in the oxy tank at the vet and costs me about $500-800 per trip.  Last fall they changed him over to Prednisilone which was harder to find and more expensive but really seemed to work wonders for his attacks.  The vet tried to get me to use the cat inhaler but he is impossible to get to use that and when we did it only made his attacks worse.  Last week I went to have his Prednisilone Rx refilled and the pharmacist told me that to fill a 60 tabet order would cost me over $500 now when it used to bt $50 a month ago.  I had to switch him back to predisone and now a week later he is having a major attack on a Sunday and having to be rushed to the emergency vet!  What gives these pharmaceutical companies the right to raise the price so high!  Why is this allowed?  I guess I should have just paid the $500 for the pills and spared myself and Michel the trip and bill to the emergency vet! 

Does anyone have any other suggestions for what could be used to treat his asthma?
 
 

feralvr

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Recently, I needed a refill of Prednisolone 5mg. for my adorable cat. This medication has been a life-saver when she suffers from an asthma attack. The tablets are white and circular in shape.

However, once I got the medication home, I realized I had Prednisone 5mg. The tablets are white and oval in shape. The tablets appear to have the letter P and the number 5 on them.

When I called the veterinary clinic, the receptionist felt I still had Prednisolone tablets and attributed the visual differences in tablets to a change in the company that manufactures the drug.

Since Prednisolone has saved the life of my cat on several occasions, I am hesitant to trust the advice of the receptionist. I want to believe her; however, we are talking about a beloved member of my family.

The receptionist understood my feelings, and asked me to bring in both of my prescriptions, so the medications could be verified. I will stop by the clinic tomorrow morning.

Do you have any thoughts and/or concerns about this matter? If so, I would appreciate your time in responding to my email.

Thanks so much!
Rhonda
Hi Rhonda! Welcome and sorry your post was missed! I have both shapes in the Pred as well. Not to worry, they both are exactly the same just the shape is different and probably from a different manufacturer. I actually prefer the oval. Much easier to break in half. I have a very hard time breaking the little circular tablet in half.
 

coatfetish

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My cat Michael has asthma, for years he was on Prednisone and Terbutaline tablets.  But at least once a year he has a major attack and has to spend 2-3 days in the oxy tank at the vet and costs me about $500-800 per trip.  Last fall they changed him over to Prednisilone which was harder to find and more expensive but really seemed to work wonders for his attacks.  The vet tried to get me to use the cat inhaler but he is impossible to get to use that and when we did it only made his attacks worse.  Last week I went to have his Prednisilone Rx refilled and the pharmacist told me that to fill a 60 tabet order would cost me over $500 now when it used to bt $50 a month ago.  I had to switch him back to predisone and now a week later he is having a major attack on a Sunday and having to be rushed to the emergency vet!  What gives these pharmaceutical companies the right to raise the price so high!  Why is this allowed?  I guess I should have just paid the $500 for the pills and spared myself and Michel the trip and bill to the emergency vet! 

Does anyone have any other suggestions for what could be used to treat his asthma?
 
$500 for 60 tablets? That's crazy! It must have been some kind of error? I got 120 tablets for about $27.00  just a few weeks ago through Drs Foster and Smith. Check their website under prescriptions.
 

kip888

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I found your site after searching for Prednisolone shortage on the internet.  My cat has IBS and has been taking the generic Millipred for some time.  As we all know, this drug is very hard to find at a reasonable price.  My last Rx was filled at a local pharmacy as my Vet said it was on back order.  The price last October at the pharmacy was $87 for 90 pills.  After calling for a refill today, the pharmacist told me the price is now $910 for 90 pills.  Yes, that's right, $910!   I asked him to repeat it just to make sure I heard correctly.  Seriously, who can afford those prices?  After calling my Vet to ask about alternative places, she recommended  http://www.diamondbackdrugs.com/.  I've used them before with no problems.  I called DiamondBack to see if they made a pill form as my cat does not tolerate liquid medications at all.  They do make tablets and the price for 60 is $27.95.  Apparently it's cheaper as they compound the drugs as opposed to buying from the manufacturer. I just wanted to let everyone know there are places that sell this drug that won't cost you an arm and a leg.  

Hope this information helps anyone who is searching for this drug.

I look forward to getting to know you all!  
 

finnlacey

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She's right, the price of millipred has skyrocketed to a unreal prices. I don't know what's going on but this is price gouging!
 

elsa

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I found info on prednisolone recall. Hete is link
https://www.mediguard.org/alerts/alert/1931.html

Did not sound too bad. Sharing in case anyone can find out more. Affects 5 mg tablets in US and UK. There is a separate recall on the oral suspension.

I've also had probems filling a script. Target does seem to have some. I've checked online vet pharmacies most expect to be restocked in late Octobet 2013.
 
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