Tramadol or gabapentin for arthritis?

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Karen & Angus(GA), Apr 25, 2014.

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  1. Karen & Angus(GA)

    Karen & Angus(GA) Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Minou is 19 years old and has arthritis, IBD, and cholangiohepatitis. She is not diabetic. Her IBD and cholangiohepatitis are well controlled with prednisolone and cisapride. She is having noticeable pain with the arthritis (limps, does not squat or jump at all any more, has difficulty grooming). She is on the maximum dose of Adequan. We have also tried a 6 week course of cold laser therapy that did not help. My vet has suggested we try either Tramadol or gabapentin. I have not used either before, so I welcome any experience or comments you can offer. Thanks.
     
  2. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    While tramadol is not expensive, many cats get spaced out on the specific dose which is 1/4 of a 50 mg tablet. I can be compounded but it tastes terrible. I would try the gabapentin
     
  3. Melanie and Smokey

    Melanie and Smokey Well-Known Member

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    Feb 24, 2010
    If nothing else works for a cat, then and only then would I personally use Tramadol. All of my cats just acted bad on it, either zombied out or they cried in their sleep or acted like they were seeing things. The older the cat, the scarier the side effects I had.

    I would recommend trying gabapentin first.
     
  4. Grayson & Lu

    Grayson & Lu Well-Known Member

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    Jan 9, 2012
    Many of our acromegalic cats have aches & pains, and most of us give them Gabapentin. I think Tramadol has drug interactions with other meds, like Bupenorphine, so you would want to keep that in mind if she's on other meds and research before you decide. Gaba does not.

    Lu-Ann
     
  5. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Both Bupenorphine (Bupernex), and tramadol are opiates and should not be give together.
     
  6. Karen & Angus(GA)

    Karen & Angus(GA) Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Thanks everyone. My vet gave me a couple of Tramadol tablets to try this weekend and, like you all predicted, she is very loopy.
     
  7. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    What dose did you give?
     
  8. Karen & Angus(GA)

    Karen & Angus(GA) Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    1/4 of a 50 mg tablet
     
  9. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    How much does Minou weight? 1/4 or 5o mg is "normal " for a 10 lb cats
     
  10. Karen & Angus(GA)

    Karen & Angus(GA) Member

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    Minou weighs 14 lbs.
     
  11. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    You can try about 1/8 of 50 mg tab. But I would pursue the gabapentin.
     
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