Gabapentin dose in cats

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Stephen Courtney — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:08:19 GMT

We get a liquid syrup preparation which we use for cats and small dogs , sourced from our local friendly pharmacy. i don't have details to hand and it is not mentioned in MIMS but it makes all your compounding worries go away.

I will check and post details tomorrow

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Rajat — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:25:16 GMT

[quote user="Matt Gurney"]I use 10mg/kg PO BID in cats - involves splitting capsules as accurately as poss and putting into gelatin capsules[/quote]

I used to do this till someone pointed out you could mix it with water and squirt into the mouth.Not sure how well it mixes but not had any complaints yet.

I also use 10mg/kg Gabapentin ...tho you can go higher if needed...

Amitryptilline in cats is meant to be fabulous for chronic pain - only used it a couple of times for this though - not sure if it is better than Gabapentin for neuropathic pain - I would think not - but definitely worth a try if gabapentin fails. You could also try Lyrica (pre gabalin) if gabapentin fails (despite dose increases).

Thanks Matt learnt something new today re neuropathic pain and Amantadine's role

Cheers

Raj

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Emma Middleton — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:22:53 GMT

Thanks guys for all your input. I went with a trial of 10mg/kg bid (well as close as poss to this by splitting the capsules). Mild sedation to begin with but owner is very impressed as cat has completely stopped chewing itself. Whether or not it's just relaxing the cat or actually helping with pain, I guess we'll never know, but it seems to be working well in this patient.

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Matt Gurney — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:52:54 GMT

I use 10mg/kg PO BID in cats - involves splitting capsules as accurately as poss and putting into gelatin capsules. Use is totally anecdotal. No formal evaluations yet of efficacy, side effects, long term effects.

I would also suggest amantadine (Symmetrel) 5mg/kg PO SID. Available as a liquid so great for cats. Again, no formal evaluations in cats.

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Claire Fisher — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:11:14 GMT

I spoke to anaesthetist at Liverpool University about gabapentin in cats and I can't remember their suggested dose in mg/kg but it was apparently equivalent to a dab of powder from a 100mg capsule on the tip of the index finger applied to the cat's gums.

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Kate Richardson — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:42:01 GMT

[quote user="Dagmar Steele"]10mg/kg?[/quote]

Yup, thats the suggested starting dose in the article.

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:34:05 GMT

10mg/kg? That's more than I've given to start with and I'd expect some ataxia at that dose (which may reduce compliance). Later you can easily go that high without getting sedation and ataxia if you up it gradually. Thanks for the info!

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Kate Richardson — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:29:13 GMT

Bit of a coincidence- have just come across a JSFM journal from March 2010 which has an article on long term pain in cats.

Suggests 10mg/kg gabapentin q 12hours as an alternative dose rate. If no response after a week, the dose can be increased. Sedation and ataxia main side effects.

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:31:58 GMT

yes, pain management will always be trial and error. Very often I need more than one substance to get satisfying results. I will be on the lookout fore more data on gabapentin as I'd like to backup what I'm doing by some studies...

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Kate Richardson — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:23:23 GMT

I think pain relief is very variable- what works in one animal or condition doesn't work in another, particularly for neurological pain and for long term relief. I have used phenobarb successfully in a FOPS case, in which nothing else worked (admittedly didn't use gabapentin) and cat has been on it long term with no ill effects. I guess you have to weigh up known potential side effects versus unknown potential side effects- but the main factor has to be effective pain relief so it is always going to be risks versus benefits as with everything else and ultimately a life with long term pain is not fair on any animal. Gabapentin does seem to be becoming used more and more so maybe there is some data out there or being collected as to long term effects.

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:15:32 GMT

yes, I have used it over several months. So far there are no known side effects of gabapentin whilst phenobarb might affect the liver, that's why I'd prefer not to give it longterm for pain, especially because I don't find the pain relief very convincing. Of course I do give phenobarb to epileptic animals lifelong and don't see side effects very often :-)

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Kate Richardson — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:05:14 GMT

Useful to know Dagmar . Have you used gabapentin long term? If so why would you use that long term but not phenobarb? Just interested. Are there any long term side effects of gabapentin known?

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:59:54 GMT

I have done so before using it in cats, I have an US colleague who is a member in several pain and anaesthesia organisations. She is a huge fan of Gabapentin, especially for neurological pain. I have used it quite a lot now to her recommendations and the side effects are very rare whilst the effect is very good. There may be some sedation in the beginning, but that goes away with time or dose reduction. One problem is that capsules only come in 100mg and 600mg here, so we have to find a pharmacy to compound 10mg capsules. Amitryptilline is worth a try as well, I wouldn't want to use buprenorphine or phenobarbitone for an extended period of time. Another word of warning about gabapentin in general: Don't withdraw abrupt if given for a longer period, there may be rewind pain otherwise.

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Kate Richardson — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:19:35 GMT

I would contact a neurology specialist or even an anaesthetist regarding gabapentin in cats, I don't know much about its use.

I assume you have ruled out any underlying bony injury?

Have you tried buprenorphine?

I would try amitryptilline and phenobarbitone is worth trying also.

Hope that helps

Re: Gabapentin dose in cats

Dagmar Steele — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:21:59 GMT

I use 10mg tid in an average cat, taper up to more if needed.