Is transdermal prednisloone as effective as the pill form?

Hi.  We have an ibd cat who has been taking pred for a long time (probably 3 years now).  She was given 6 months to live by our vet and she really has come back (as long as we keep up the regiment of pred,, slippery elm, enzymes, probiotics and sometimes pepcid).  I'd like to stop pilling her.  She is actually pretty good with it - but I'd like her to not have to experience pilling anymore so we are considering going to transdermal in the ear. 

Has anyone switched over and found that it is just effective as the pill version?  Or, perhaps, not as effective?

thanks for any input.

PS - I realize pred for long term is controversial but I'd like to keep this thread focused on the transdermal effectiveness....    

Hi @marshmallow

My cat is on pred too and I have no idea but I'm sure you could call your vet and ask.  And have you ever tried pill pockets as a way of slipping a pill to your cat without complaint?

We've tried all the obvious ways and we have to pill her. We put the pill in a capsule which makes it better for her because it doesn't melt when she keeps spitting it out. I did find another thread somewhere (not sure where - you know how internet browsing is!) in which they discuss this very issue and it seems to work just as well. I think I will give it a try because it seems so much friendlier to the cat.

It depends on the cat I suppose. *Shrugs* Could be wrong here though.

I have 1 cat that is one the transdermal Preds and he is doing okay with it. He takes it much better then the pill. Whether it's more effective or not can't say too well.  The main thing is to rotate which ear you put it on - i.e. right, left, right....... as well as cleaning the ears every other time as well so it gets absorbed better.