Too much medication causing reduced appetite?

[emuhawk]

My 6 y/o cat was seen by an internal medicine specialist about a week ago for regurgitation (not vomiting) after my normal vet couldn't find anything wrong doing a physical exam and x-rays.  The specialist did an endoscopy and fluoroscopy but didn't find anything abnormal there either.  About six weeks ago he had surgery for a totally unrelated issue (urinary problem) and he had extensive bloodwork done at that time, all of which came back normal as well.  There's no sign that anything is wrong with the surgical site - it has been completely healed for a few weeks.

The specialist sent him home with a bunch of different medication - metoclopramide, sucralfate, pepcid, and tresaderm (the last one being for an ear infection they randomly discovered during the exam).  I also had to add some miralax to the list, because he was clearly constipated when I brought him home.  He started all that medication last Friday, and his appetite has not been good ever since.  He will only eat small amounts of wet food (I've offered lots of different kinds, including stuff he used to devour) and slightly more dry (which he isn't supposed to have b/c of the urinary problems, but I'm desperate) and he's losing a lot of weight very quickly.  I have looked up all these medications and don't see appetite loss as a side effect of any of them, but maybe others who have used it with their cats have some experience?  I did let both my regular vet and the specialist know what is going on, but with the holidays everyone is very hard to reach.  The specialist sent me a message through her assistant saying that she could prescribe an appetite stimulant, but at this point I'm extremely hesitant to add yet another medication to the list since they seem to just be making everything worse.

The one good thing is that the regurgitation seems to have stopped, but the failure to eat seems like a much bigger problem.

Any ideas or similar experiences that anyone could share would be hugely appreciated!

 

[cprcheetah]

None of those meds usually cause decreased appetite, but it is possible with any med.  I am dealing with a similar situation in my old girl, she is on a bunch of meds, constipated and I have been having to give her an appetite stimulant to get her to eat.  I have had to just buy my kitty a smorgasboard of different flavors.  Her favorite right now is anything with chunks, so that is what she is getting.  Have you tried warming the food?  Adding Parmasan Cheese to it?  Fortiflora from the vet?  Those are some of the things you can do to encourage him to eat more.  I have been feeding my kitty 4-6 small meals per day so she doesn't get so overwhelmed with huge meals.

 

[emuhawk]

I've tried warming (he hates it) and feeding smaller meals.  I might give the Parmesan cheese a shot.  He will eat a little bit, but he isn't excited by food like he used to be, and mostly he just sniffs it and then walks away.  The vet prescribed mirtazapine as an appetite stimulant, but I'm reading that it has a lot of negative side effects, and I really don't want to compound the problem with those.  Even setting aside the not eating, I can just tell he isn't feeling 100%, but I don't know what to do about it.  I feel like the whole situation is spiraling out of control, and I'm really terrified about where it is headed.  

 

[denice]

I think that there is an underlying issue that is causing the appetite loss rather than the medication.  With all the blood work and imaging coming back normal I think it's probably an inflammation issue.  My kitty had flares for six years before he went on a steroid and to be honest none of the usual tricks ever would get him to eat either.  For now with it being Christmas which means the only vet available would be an emergency clinic I would try the appetite stimulant.  The main thing is to get him to eat hopefully without resorting to syringe feeding.