Hyperthyroidism treatments

Re: Hyperthyroidism treatments

Bob Russell — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:02:00 GMT

Very naughty and non-PC (and not-cascade friendly) - neomercazole tablets do seem to work well in cats crushed up in food. They do not seem to find it unpalatable, in my experience it does not seem to cause increased levels of vomiting. This cannot obviously be done with Vidalta. We have a policy here that licenced preperations will not work if they remain in the packet or end up collecting fluff on the carpet and therefore we are still complying with the cascade.

Obviously being good citizens we try all licenced avenues first.

Re: Hyperthyroidism treatments

Vikki Halliday LLB — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:14:38 GMT

I would personally be a little concerned about handing out transdermal methimazole/carbimazole to some clients, the ones who need the most help medicating cats are usually the ones I'd worry might get it mixed up with their own haemarrhoid cream!

But in the right hands an oral liquid could be a useful tool. Case in point : oral liquid meloxicam has to my mind revolutionised medication of cats requiring NSAIDs.

Re: Hyperthyroidism treatments

Vikki Moran — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:14:37 GMT

i remember hearing about this as a possibility when i was a student and ever since have thought it would be ideal. i mean, not many elderly cats are easy to medicate are they. in fact my own 15 year old cat had a thyroidectomy, because even with once daily vidalta, it was a nightmare, but i only did a partial, so i'm permanently watching for a regression when the other side goes awry.

perhaps we should all go to BSAVA and be asking the relevant drug companies why they don't make a gel form!

Re: Hyperthyroidism treatments

Rob Loxley — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:33:49 GMT

There is some data on transdermal antithyroid medication:
1. Sartor LL, Trepanier LA, Kroll M, et al. Efficacy and safety of transdermal methimazole in the treatment of cats with hyperthyroidism. J Vet Intern Med 18: 651-655: 2004.
2. Boretti FS, Sieber-Ruckstuhl NS, Tschour F, et al. Short and long-term follow-up of hyperthyroid cats treated with transdermal methimazole. J Vet Intern Med 20;1523-1524: 2006.
3. Clinical efficacy and safety of transdermal methimazole in the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism; Manon Lécuyer, Sabrina Prini, Marilyn E. Dunn, and Michèle Y. Doucet; Can Vet J. 2006 February; 47(2): 131–135
4. Hoffmann,G., Marks,S.L.,Taboada, J., Hosgood, G.L., Wolfsheimer, K.J. (2003): Transdermal methimazole treatment in cats with hyperthyroidism. In: Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 5, 2 , April 2003, pp 77-82
5. Buijtels J J C W M; Kurvers I A P G; Galac S; Winter E A; Kooistra H S
[Transdermal carbimazole for the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism]
Tijdschrift voor diergeneeskunde 2006;131(13):478-82.

I have previously had carbimazole made up as a transdermal PLO gel in the UK, from The Specials Lab, but it was horrendously expensive (especially if you stick to the 28day shelf life).

There are a few specials/compounding labs in the UK (The Specials Lab and Nova Laboratories are 2 I've had experience of) who will make drugs in different formulations or strengths. Getting chemo drugs made up in smaller strengths for small patients (e.g. cyclophosphamide in smaller strength tablets for cats on COP) is another thing they are useful for.

However, the compounding/specials pharmacy business is tiny in the UK compared to the USA, so generally the costs are very high, IME.