Methylcobalamin in diabetic neuropathy cat

Re: Methylcobalamin in diabetic neuropathy cat

toby travis — Wed, 14 May 2014 09:49:11 GMT

Thanks Michael and Andy for your advice/effort, much appreciated.

There are a few older papers out there with positive conclusions but nothing that recent and nothing in cats.

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1992;94(2):105-11
Effects of methylcobalamin on diabetic neuropathy.
Yaqub BA, Siddique A, Sulimani R.

Horm Metab Res 1982 Jan;14(1):10-3
In vivo effect of methylcobalamin on the peripheral nerve structure in streptozotocin diabetic rats.
Yagihashi S, Tokui A, Kashiwamura H, Takagi S, Imamura K.

I understand that they are looking at the incidence of neuropathy in diabetic cats at Langford at the moment.

Re: Methylcobalamin in diabetic neuropathy cat

Richard Carter — Wed, 14 May 2014 09:28:04 GMT

Is the neuropathy linked to electrolyte/ neurotransmitter deficiency or due to ketosis having oxidised the fat in the nerve sheath?

Re: Methylcobalamin in diabetic neuropathy cat

Andrew Kent — Wed, 14 May 2014 08:15:29 GMT

Hi Toby,

methylcobalamin is one of the 'alternative' remedies that have been investigated in people with peripheral neuropathies with (at best) mixed results. Other anti-oxidants, N-acetylcysteine etc are also potentially beneficial.

In cats cyanocobalamin (which is in most B12 products) is converted to methylcobalamin so you should be fine to use your normal B12 preparation - and I would use the injection as B12 in tablets usually doesn't work. You could check the cat's B12 level - if its high in the reference range anyway then the effect may be less, but you could still go for it if lower in the range. Looking in the BNF, methylcobalamin is not there so probably not available in the UK.

My experience with diabetic neuropathy is that many of them do not improve with stabilisation of the disease so I normally tell the owners from the start that it will remain like that.

Andy

Re: Methylcobalamin in diabetic neuropathy cat

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 13 May 2014 23:37:27 GMT

I know nothing, but a google brings up:

"FYI, apparently one can buy methylcobalamin ampoules from germany, from: http://www.arnika-apo.de/
Methylcobalamin Ampullen zu 1mg /10x1ml
But its not visible in their online shop so one has to send an e-mail asking for it..not sure how easy or how much; one will have to contact them, see:
Betreiber dieser Website

Arnika Apotheke am Herkomerplatz
Oberföhringer Str. 2
81679 München

Bereich Versandservice
Keltenring 8
82041 Oberhaching

Tel.: 089 / 613 809 58
Fax: 089 / 613 809 59
Das Telefon ist an Werktagen Montag bis Freitag von 8:00 Uhr bis 17:00 Uhr besetzt.

E-Mail: service@arnika-apo.de
Internet: http://www.arnika-apo.de

10 ampulls of 5 mg/ml methylcobalamin cost 39,80 EUR. Delivery fee 15 EUR to the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Luxemburg. I imagine it will be 15-20 EUR to the UK.

Re: Methylcobalamin in diabetic neuropathy cat

toby travis — Tue, 13 May 2014 19:05:31 GMT

Thanks, but the normal B12 I use (AnivitB12) is Cyanocobalamin but it is Methylcobalamin that gets into the CNS and is used in humans with diabetic neuropathy.

Re: Methylcobalamin in diabetic neuropathy cat

Richard Carter — Tue, 13 May 2014 18:42:17 GMT

Not sure why? One injectable B12 is called AnivetB12. Can sting but s/c is kinder than i/m in a cat given that it is going to get about 1ml or more per week. Marmite is also B12 ( with others)