Leukeran side-effects?

[bonnieprecious]

Dear Tiggerreg ~

I read your statement about Large Cell Lymphoma.  Our cat, Tigerlilly (age 14), has been diagnosed with it as well.  She is presently on Prednisolone and Cyproheptadine, but we are noticing the diarrhea is coming back along with the vomiting (no blood).  Other than that, she is getting along nicely.  So now we are at the crossroads: do we continue on this path, or take our Vets advice and start her on the Leukeran?  I was happy to read you had success with the Leukeran.  Since it has been several years since you wrote the statement, can you offer any additional advice?

 

[cozmo]

we had no side effects with leukeran - we gave our cat who was also 14 diagnosed with lymphoma and leukemia 1/4 teaspoon or measurement of 1/4 for 4 days and than again in 3 weeks.  He was also on prednisone daily.  The leukeran helped make her live more comfortably for 2 more months.  I would give it a try.

 

[magenta henry]

I am  so sorry.  I'm about to start this med. for my cat's lymphoma  Your posting articulated what I've been thinkina about all day. Listen to the cat, not the chemo!

 

[cozmo]

Best of luck  - it should hopefully give you some additional time with your cat.  When you know she is ready - let her go.

 

[momofmaxwell]

Hi Maggie.Are you dealing with a vet,Internist or an oncologist? Has anyone talked to you about pulsed Dosing.? It is used instead the every 2nd day method.I know of 40 cats currently on pulsed.Did your vet not recommend anything for nausea?Many cats including 3 of mine all were on leukeran.pred,lysine 5oomg bid.ondandestron.&cerenia.when times were bad.Inappetance,diarrhea & also fortiflora.All I can say is thank goodness for cancer groups.They are a gift imo & helped me tremendously answering the very technical questions that come with cancer of any form.If anyone wants more info PM me.I'd be happy to help.Hugs Maggie.You may want to ask for something for nausea for your babe or ask if pulse dosing could be used in stead.C.

 

[suescats]

Try having your Vet call BCP Vet Pharmacy for your Medicine 1 800 481-1729, you may save some cost.

My concern about safety when using Chlorambucil and having to wear gloves is the affect it can not only have on the Cat they want to give it to but my other 2 cats who share litter box and dog sharing water bowel. This is a issue for people who have multiple pets, my cat after spending over $3,000 on test is believed to have IBD but say they can't rule out Cancer 100%. Sometimes I feel very frustrated and upset at how Vets I dealt with respond when questioned about anything. Should I not be concerned about my other animals after she tells me I have to wear gloves when giving the pill and cleaning litterbox? If it can harm my other animals then could it harm the cat they want to give it to if he doesn't have Cancer? They act like confining your cat or separating is easy or said If I want him to get better (?) No I spend all this money because I don't? what kind of reply is that? And the Oncologist specialist wanted my cat to eat just the dry HA Prescription food for 8 weeks and nothing else, but he doesn't like it, she said I needed to try tough love, he went all day, wanted some wet food. That wasn't working, his regular Vet said give him what he can eat if not causing diahrea and then says something about he may need to go have another Ultrasound cause she claims to have felt something she didn't two weeks ago. The cost of some Vets is getting outrageous.

 

[rosewoman]

My cat is also on leukeran, and we just learned of a compounding pharmacy in NY, Best pet Rx. Instead of $220 for eight, we got 24 for $81! Look into it.

My question is have you noticed the color of your cat's coat changing? My black tuxedo cat seems more dark brown now.

 

[dwpigsly]

I just started my 15 year old boy on Leukeran today. He doesn't have a clear diagnosis because when he first got sick last fall he stopped eating for over 48 hours and they said they could do a biopsy or start treating with prednisilone which would be the treatment for either lymphoma or IBD anyway, so that's what we did. His internist says he probably has small cell lymphoma, but we will never know for sure. He's been on 2x a day Prednisilone since last fall and that is what got him eating and saved his life. The vet said that eventually he would progress to where we needed to add the Leukeran regardless of whether it was IBD or lymphoma (the one seems to progress into the other in most cases anyway) so here we are staring today. He is on a dose 3 days a week Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

He's already been having trouble with his appetite which is the majority of how we got here. We've been giving him Mirtazipine every few days to spike his appetite which then declines after a few days. He started at one pill every 5 days about a month ago and now he needs it every 3 days. We've been fighting his weight up and down between 10.5 and 11.2lbs. The first couple of times we used the mirtazipine he put that half a pound back on in 24 hours, but it isn't working as well anymore. He weighs 10.5 tonight.

What I really want to know from people is what their experience has been with the Leukeran? How long before you saw some results and what were they? Really how long before you got results is my big question.

I'm hoping he gets his appetite back and can keep his weight up. I know nothing is permanent, but everything we are trying has only worked temporarily. The steroids have also given him a progressive heart murmur, so if it isn't one thing it'll be another because the steroids are keeping him alive, but also bad for his little heart.

We are going to keep going for as long as he seems to want to. As my vet says, other than the trips to the vet 90% of the time he doesn't really know he's sick. Once he recovered from his total intestinal blockage and refusal to eat in the fall he has been mostly his old self since. The only difference is how much he's willing to eat and what comes out the other end.

Thanks all

 

[tkasica]

My cat was diagnosed with salivary carcinoma located/embedded between mandible, parotid, sublingual glands. Surgery does not have good prognosis. Leukeran was recommended. He has taken it for 2 weeks.

I am concerned since this is not usually used to treat salivary carcinoma.

Leukeran is made according to cat's weight. Check out prices at Diamondback Drugs in Scottsdale, AZ.

 

[myplace22]

Hi,  

I too have a 15-year-old boy (ragdoll) that developed small cell cancer in the gi track.  We started him on chlorambucil Feb 28th (2mg) tab every other day.  Since there was no confirmed diagnosis they felt this was step one to try.  I am confident that my cats bad teeth contributed to the illness gradually over the past year.  

       Snoopy's leukocyte count went up to 60,000 (normal is about 16,000 I was told).  We gave the pill every other day for two weeks and he started throwing up worse than ever (projectile).  He even threw up water.   We found him to be sleeping 99% of the time would wake to lift head and try to eat but didn't budge to stand up.  I called the vet and he told me to hold the pill and go have his blood work done.  To everyone's surprise, his count was down to 20,000 and his kidney count had a very slight improvement.  So they said to restart it.  I gave him one pill and he threw up early the next morning.  So I decided to discontinue med with the agreement of our local vet (not the oncologist one).  We waited 2 weeks and this past Friday his leukocyte count was 22,000.  He is pooping again and it almost appears normal.  He also gained half a pound. 

        At this point both vets are in agreement and feel this med is too strong for Snoopy.  From what I read and heard about this drug is lethargy or sleepiness is not a good side effect nor is vomiting and the med should be stopped.  My vets feel there is nothing more we can do at this time.  I'm trying to give him probiotics and extra nutrition and I water down his food for him and he's been doing ok.  No vomiting and even purring a lot again.  Today he was playing with my computer wire too.   I do not want to give him any more of that med.  Its a strong one and can be harmful.  Be sure to wear gloves when cleaning up vomit or his litter pan.     So I guess our time is limited here at point.   I keep hoping each day for improvement or another sign on how to treat this.   We do notice his tooth on the left upper side hurts when he eats.   If any of you have suggestions about that let me know....

I feel that the chlorambucil may have helped a little.  I hope it helps yours out better.  Good luck.

... I'm going to snuggle with him now.

Take care

M

 

[samkatt]

I stumbled upon this site while researching possible side effects of chlorambucil.  My cat has been on a 2mg dose, 3x week for a few months now, with none of the side effects noted in other comments.  It took quite a bit of searching for a less expensive vet pharmacy but I found one.  Roadrunner Pharmacy in Phoenix, AZ.  50 2mg capsules costs around $50.00 and they ship 2nd day air for free.  1-877-518-4589.  They are very nice to work with.  I understand how expensive everything can be - my cat had a leg amputated last year!  Good luck to you and your sweetheart.  Let me know if this works for you.

 

[myfamily]

Hello I am researching Chlorambacil because I don't like the side-effects my cats is experiencing. My cat is between 10-12 years old. She started throwing up and lost weight dramatically and quickly. The vet put her on prednisolone and cerenia. She stopped throwing up, but her appetite was still very poor, and she continued to lose weight. . I then got her a ultra-sound. It didn't reveal anything conclusive, but they did find some fat in the stomach lining so they took a sample of it with a needle, and sent it to the lab. The sample wasn't able to tell us anything. Her condition remained  un-diagnosed, but because the aforementioned medicine wasn't helping her, the vet put her on chlorambucil. Her appetite has always been a problem, but now with chlorambucil her appetite is non-existent. If she's not going to eat, how can I continue to have her on chlorambucil. The vet say that chlorambucil has helped cats with severe inflammatory bowel disease so she thought we should try it even though my cat hasn't yet been diagnosed with cancer. I am going to take her off of it.  She has taken 3 doses so far. There have been no other side effects except her appetite. But appetite is important, especially for a cat who is skin and bones. Right now I am force-feeding her, and giving her injections for hydration.

 

[babiesmom5]

Yes, maintaining the appetite is important.  Before you take her off Chlorambucil, I would ask your Vet about adding Mirtazapine, an appetite stimulant.  It works wonders!  I have a 15 year old cat on Chlorambucil for bladder tumor plus Prednisolone for IBD and she is doing quite well.  She has even gained some weight back.  The Mirtazapine can be given every 3 days, but I find I can go 5-6 days before she needs another one.  Mirtazapine is an appetite stimulant, but also has anti-nausea effect, so I don't have to give Cerenia.  Ask your Vet.

 

[camelia]

Hello dear all,

        There are about 2 months since our cat , Lisa ( 13 years) has been diagnosed with limpfom  ( big cells) , but she started to throw up for most than a year . The vet tried with more treatments with no results , but , after the correct diagnose, the oncolog doctor prescribed leukeran - 2 pills  once from 2 and 2 weeks +  prednison 5 mg ( half at 12 hours)  and osetron 4 mg ( 1 pill at 12 hours) . I read some of your comments and I saw that your vets prescribed leukeran more often than 2 x 2 pills administrations monthly . Our cat is ok now, she is throwing up very rare ,she is playing , she runs alog the house and she eats very well , but the oncolog said not to give her dry meat any more . She eats now very well the meat in sauce   STERILISED  from Royal Canin , boiled chicken meat  and fish ( cooked or  not cooked). We were skeptical at the begining  regarding oncolog treatment, but as long as the quality of her life is still high , it's ok.

    I  hope that your kitties are fine and I wish you well 

 

[addie2013]

Hi all. Our cat has been diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. The vet (of whom we think very highly) prescribed Prednisone daily and 2mg Leukeran once every 4-5 days. Everything we've seen online suggests that this is the standard treatment.

However, the Leukeran really seems to hit our cat hard. Each time we give it to her she's totally wiped out for the next 2-3 days. Her appetite goes down to about 50%, she sleeps the whole day and wants to be off by herself, she doesn't purr or miaow (usually a very chatty and very sociable cat). Our vet also seems a bit puzzled by this. We know it's the Leukeran and not the Pred because she started the Pred a few weeks before the Leukeran and was fine.

Has anyone else seen this? How did you deal with it? Reduce the frequency? Reduce the dosage? What were the effects of this?

Thanks a lot!

Maggie

I just came across so I know this is way too late to respond to Maggie, but we are having the very same experience with leukeran in our 10 year old cat. I'm sorry to hear about these problems but relieved at the same time.

 

[dockside]

Hi all,
I'm new here and have read all the posts here on chlorambucil. Our dear 8 year old cat, Gizmo, was just recently kind-of diagnosed, after an ultrasound, with intestinal lymphoma. We took him to an oncologist who did a fine needle aspiration of an enlarged lymph node, which returned only a bloody mass, and then one of the intestine. The results came back as "unable to ID any overt cancer cells. "q Gizmo has been vomiting off and on for two years and has lost about 3 lbs over that time (he was overweight so now looks great - 17 to 14 lbs)

Anyway, the oncology vet said that abdominal surgery could ID what the problem is and tell us whether he has cancer and, if so, whether large cell or small cell, which is easier to treat. My husband and I have easily decided that no surgery for a diagnosis (the surgery could even kill him or cause other problems). Even if it was free, we wouldn't put him through that trauma just for a diagnosis. I read something in one of the posts here about a vet recommending a CAT scan when the other tests couldn't confirm the problem. Have any of you had this done in such a case? I am thinking we will have our regular vet take care of him instead of the oncologist (which is a 2 hour trip one-way and expensive, to boot) and, if no further non-invasive testing can be done, to put him on prednisolone and keep him as comfortable as possible. The day after seeing the oncologist, he was very lethargic but today is back to his old self. About two weeks ago, I started him on Fancy Feast pate, an enzyme and probiotic and his vomiting has decreased dramatically. He just wasn't digesting the kibble and the pate goes down easily, without having to chew it (he wasn't chewing the kibble as it would come up whole when he threw up).

I'd appreciate hearing about any similar experiences and things I can ask my vet.