Tapazole for Thyroid

I guess that old saying"You learn something new everyday" is still true. Too bad my Cookie was not Hypo instead of Hyper because I take med for my hypo thyroid and then we could "share" our pills:laughing: AND I pay nothing for my prescription as my insurance covers it 100%. Now I wish I had considered pet insurance Do you think most vets will give you a prescription or do you think some will say "Oh you can buy it from us". Hopefully, if Cookie needs more, my vet will allow me to get Tazapole from wherever I want. They cannot deny me the right to purchase elsewhere.......Can they

Originally posted by Judy831
Now I wish I had considered pet insurance

Do you think most vets will give you a prescription or do you think some will say "Oh you can buy it from us". Hopefully, if Cookie needs more, my vet will allow me to get Tazapole from wherever I want. They cannot deny me the right to purchase elsewhere.......Can they

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Hi Judy!
I think pet insurance only helps if it was not a pre-existing conditon. I am not sure on this one. I would get it for my Dani, but she had it when we got her, so we pay out of pocket.

If you insist from your Vet that you want to get your meds through the drugstore instead of him, he should give you a prescription. You have every right to get it where you want.
If he denies it, I would find another Vet. That means he is only out to make a buck by holding the meds hostage, and there is NO reason you can't get the meds from the drugstore instead of him.

My cat takes Tapazole and I pay 35 cents a pill. A 30-day supply cost me $10.50. My cat hated me giving her a pill, she would run and hide, it was awful for about a month. Now she has gotten use to it and does not run from me or spit it half way across the kitchen. What use to take a good 30 minutes to catch her and give the pill and try to find the pill after she spit it out now takes only a few seconds. I always tell her what a good girl she was and give her a hug and take right back to place she was when I went to get her to give her the pill.

Hang in there and I hope all goes well.

Hello Val, Yes I know it is too late to even THINK about pet insurance. It was just a comment I made about "considering" insurance when Cookie was younger !! Ha there would be no way anyone could get insurance for a 16 year old cat:laughing2 I will not pay the price the vet wants for Tapazole so they better write me a prescription for it. I do not think there will be a problem with my vet,but one never knows until the question is asked. Hopefully I will get the prescription with no trouble. I am not sure yet if she will be on them until I get her blood tested again later this month. She is doing so well after her round of Baytril for a urinary infection. She now has to be feed a special "kidney" cat food and I received many samples from her vet. Some she can't stand and others she will eat so I am taking notes on which she prefers. Do you know where I can buy the special cans of cat food besides a vets office?? I have looked at the local pet food stores with no luck. I shudder to think how much her vet charges for the food:disturbed Hope you had a Happy New Year I cannot believe it is 2002 Time sure flys...................................

Oh, do I know about all that cat chasing And the spitting of the pills. Cats are much smarter than we all think You are doing a wonderful job with your girl and making pill giving less stressful is something I thrive for. How old is your cat?? And where do you get the Tapazole?? That is an unbelievable price I hope I am not being nosey but I can't believe how little you pay for her meds and I am so curious as to where you can get them so cheap. Are they the generic Tapazole?? Please write back whenever you get a chance Happy 2002 May the world be a safer place in 2002

Judy,

My cat is 8 years old and has been taking tapazole since August. I get the medication from the vet. Sometimes it's the generic and sometimes it's not, the price does not change. And your not being nosy at all, ask me anything. But, pill giving is so stressful in the beginning and not just for the cat, but for you. I felt like I was being so mean and that she was going to hide from me everytime she seen me. So, for awhile she ran, I cried, and my other cat wondered what was going on, but maybe she better hide too, for she could be next, just not sure. So for awhile none of us were in our happy place, but it has returned and that is what you have to keep remembering it will get better. I do hope you can find cheaper medication, that was outragous price you had to pay for 7 pills.

Happy New Year to you and your kitty.

I know what you mean by being "THE BAD GUY" to your cats !! I have been pushing meds on Cookie since October. It started with one bottle of Amoxidrops(not too bad)then one bottle of Clindadrops (which she totally freaked out at every dose) and she still had the same symptoms so I switched to a cat only vet. After 24 days on Baytril she is now much better. NOW I have the Tapazole to give. Yikes I feel soooo bad forcing pills on her but I know it is only for her own good. I have heard about a way to give Tapazole by rubbing it onto a cats ear (on this forum). It must be in a gell form and I am going to ask the vet about it on Cookies next visit. Your vet sure keeps his medicine prices low and that is wonderful. If you look back to one of my previous posts I paid$1.80 A PILL!!! NOT FAIR for there to be such a big price difference for the exact same drug. I am happy for you and your kitty and thanks for the correct spelling of nosy!! I think I need to go back to school

Hi Judy

I was not even aware of a special "kidney" food. I have never seen it in stores, i.e. Petland, Petco, or the supermarket.


But of course I never actually looked for it, so it COULD have been there, but I don't think so. Others on this board would be better able to answer that question as to where to get that kind of food.

Sorry, wish I could help more on that issue.

OY OY OY

EEEEKKK....Now Dani's thyroid is down to less than TWO !!!!!!!

Normal is between 10 and 40....

The Vet said stop the meds. Come back in 6 weeks and redo the bloodwork.

He said since her tests consistantly show a normal T4, and ONLY the T3 is off, maybe she does not really have hyperthyrodism, but the blood tests show an off day. It is hard, because half the test is normal, and half is abnormal.

OY OY>..less than 2!!!! OMG I am glad she is still alive!!!!

I think the kidney food is a "vet only" item. I thought MAYBE I could buy it over the internet like so many cat medicines. I have looked at Petsmart and they have none. I am hoping my vet does not over charge me for the food like she did for the Tapazole. I am also afraid of what the Tapazole might do to my Cookie. Unbelievable as it sounds I am also having the same problems myself!! The last time I had my blood work done doc told me to cut back on my Synthroid. I guess it must be a very hard disease to regulate in humans and cats!! I am happy your cat is doing O.K. and aren't these blood tests a pain in the butt?? I feel so bad everytime I have to take my kitty for another blood draw and since she had a bad urinary infection the vet kept her there until she gave up a specimin!! It always breaks my heart to leave her Have a great week and talk to you soon

Judy,

I know the feeling of dragging your kitty to the Doc, and she thinks she is being killed. Mine cries and it breaks my heart.
She had to have ear surgery a while back, and we were parted for 3 days. I went into a depression, because I knew she did not know what was happening, and was probably thinking we had abandoned her.

Anyway, my cat is not okay. Her thyroid is all over the place, right now almost nonexistant in function. A friend of mine suggested I go to another Vet for another opinion.
Actually, the Vet who told me the results (less than 2) last night was a different Vet than my own. (they share the same office).
I am going to call back when my regular Vet is there, (Which is not until Saturday!!) and ask if he concurs with the first Vet's decision to stop the meds.

AARRRRRGGGGGGGGG HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO IS RIGHT????????

I am starting to fall apart with worry again. My poor baby and he jumping thyroid.....how dangerous is this????????

WWAAAAAAAAAAAAA

PS> Judy, Vet's always overcharge, I think

Sorry Val I misunderstood you and I thought your cat was all right I wish I had some good advice for you ,but a second opinion never hurts !! Heck I totally CHANGED vets when I felt Cookie was not receiving the care she deserved. It was a big decision for me but I had to do "right" by my cat and make the change. I am soooo happy that I did What are Dani's symptoms? It would be helpful to me to know so that I can watch out for them when Cookie starts on her meds. I sure hope you get some answers this Saturday. Have you looked on any of the Cat Health web sites for information on thyroid disease in cats?? I wish you and your kitty much luck in getting her thyroid regulated correctly.
Don't you wish there was a way to better communicate with our cats? I am like you and I feel terrible when I have to leave her at the vets. I want to tell her that I WILL be back to pick her up. I sure would like to know what is going on in her head as I hand her over to the doctor after the long ride in the car and her constant crying it breaks my heart to have to leave her and come home empty handed That last time I left her I cried all the way home and I could barely see where I was driving. Please keep me informed on Dani's progress. And yes I do think all vets overcharge !!!

Hi JUdy,

Right now when Dani is on less than 2 level thyroid, I don't observe any special side effects. The only thing is she is shedding A LOT, but the Vet said that could either be change of season coat, or the thyroid.

But every time when we adjusted her meds, (which was twice) she was fine for a week, then got very lethargic for about 3 days, and that passed and she seemed normal again.

That is the only side effect I can tell you about in my experience. Also, as her thyroid level went down, from being too high, she started eating more.

I have looked at the websites on this subject, but they don't say what to do if your cat's level goes below the norm. They only give treatment options for general treating of thyroid...arrrggg....If anyone out there knows of where I can find info on almost non-functioning thyroid and meds, I would appreciate it.

Judy I know EXACTLY what you mean about leaving the cat at the vet. I wish we could communicate with them too. I believe we can commmunicate in many ways, but when it comes to something like that, they never seem to understand. Of course they associate the Vet with pain, treatments and the like.

Cats need to feel VERY, VERY secure, and when we even take them out of the house they start to panic...at least most cats, I think.

Hi Judy,

I was just wondering how you and Cookie are doing? And, if you found her medication any cheaper? You were just on my mind tonight.


Missy

Thanks for thinking of us. I have not searched for the meds yet because I am not sure she will have to be on them. She needs a blood test and that will be done the middle of this month. Doc wants her to be on them a while before she can give me a definite answer. I still have the Tapazole from the vet and each pill must be broken into 4 pieces(not an easy thing to do ). With the holidays and our vacation I really have not started her on them yet. It has been a very busy time for me and she just finished her round of Baytril for a urinary infection , so i gave her (and Me) a little break She is doing wonderful now and for that I am so very glad !! I will keep you posted on her progress. You are very lucky that your cat did not have the same reaction as Vals Did you read her posts??? The thyroid very difficult to regulate correctly

I'm glad things are going well. You are right, the thyroid is difficult to regulate when it goes whacko. Not only in cats but humans, my niece and sister-in-law both have thyroid problems (one over and one under) and they are always having to have their meds increased or decreased.

I did read about Vals kitty, poor little thing. I hope all goes well with her.


Keep us posted.

Thank you Missy and Judy.

Today I will call and talk to my regular Vet, not the one who gave me the blood results.

I want to see if he agrees with the other doctors course of treatment, which is to stop all meds and come back in 6 weeks for another blood test.

I noticed that baby was drooling again this morning. just a little, but it reminded me that I had NOT seen that for a very long time.
I am afraid her thyroid is going to run amok.

Well, I will see what my Vet says, I trust him. He seems very good, and concerned about his patients. The problem is, maybe this other doctor is just as good, with a different opinion......who knows who is right? But I will lean toward what my reg. Vet says.....Gotta pick someone to trust, or you go crazy.

WELL now

Just spoke to my regular Vet. He said instead of stopping the meds cold and come back in six weeks, to put her on a half a pill every day for a week and bring her back next Saturday for a new blood test.

That sounds more reasonable to me....how does it sound to you folks?

Thanks for the advice.

I think your vet is correct in not stopping Dani "cold" on her meds. My vet has me breaking a Tapazole into 4 pieces . They don't want to overdose Cookie on thyroid meds. Ha,that is exactly what happened to ME!! Doc had me on too strong a dose and has just cut back my dosage because of my last blood test results that showed I was getting too much Synthroid. I have to go back in 12 weeks for another blood test. Yikes it is making me crazy !!! Then we come home from vacation yesterday to find our other cat limping on his back leg off to the vet and they think it is just a muscle pull and to give it 2 weeks to heal . I sure hope he gets better as it is hard enough dealing with one sick cat let alone two!!!! Vet said to bring him back for more extensive tests if he is not better after the 2 weeks so I am hoping that he will get better on his own Val I truly believe that you must go with your "gut" when it comes to chosing the best vet for your kitty. That is why I switched vets because I felt that Cookie's original vet was not giving her the best care that she so deserves. Sorry it took so long for me to answer............we just arrived home last night

AAww Judy,

I am so sorry about your other kitty and the leg. I hope it heals soon.

Yes, I am not stopping the meds cold. I am going with my original Vet. He took a blood test today, and I have had her on a very, very low dose of meds, as directed. We will see, but I thought it best to trust him. I have a good feeling about my Vet.

It is pretty hard to regulate thyroid, in humans and animals.

OOh Judy, I hope your kitty does well on the tapazole, and that your other kitty heals fast.