? Denamarin Opinions

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by shelaghc, Jul 5, 2018.

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  1. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    My vet was doing some research about pancreatitis for Jester (with no urging from me) and emailed me that he was recommending and prescribing Denamarin.

    He gave me some kind of discount (cost was $30) to help with Jester's weight loss issues.

    I'm supposed to give Jester one pill daily on an empty stomach starting tomorrow morning with a one month supply.

    The vet's email to me was this:
    FYI - "sam e" is shorthand for the generic name "S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe)."

    From PetMeds:
    Any thoughts and/or opinions to share with me before the first pill?
     
  2. Beck and Philly

    Beck and Philly Well-Known Member

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    Jun 4, 2018
    We just bought a box of Denemarin for Grandpa. The box suggested fasting overnight and giving it one hour before a meal. I gave the first one super early, waited an hour and fed him then went back to sleep. I found the pill later in the bedcovers. The next day we gave it early and that evening after 6pm he vomited. The whole pill came back up 12 hours after giving it. I read not to cut or crush the pills.

    Grandpa has some pretty serious issues so we don't know how well his body is processing anything so we haven't given him any more so far. I have read really good things. I'l be interested in your thoughts after you start.
     
  3. Jill & Alex (GA)

    Jill & Alex (GA) Senior Member Moderator

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  4. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    The only instruction I was given from the vet was on an empty stomach. Nothing about an hour before eating.
     
  5. Tanya and Ducia

    Tanya and Ducia Well-Known Member

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    Feb 25, 2017
    Denamarin is a wonderful thing that helped my Ducia a lot! I have only good things to say about it.
    When we were giving Den to Ducia it was via Esophageal feeding tube so we had to crush it to a powder, mix with food and water and administer 1 x 24 h. The pill was rather large and was blue coated. I read about not breaking the pill but it was not our case.
    It worked all the same tho.
    You can see the blood work in Ducia's SS Lab tab - all liver values improved from Feb 2017 tp Apr 2017, P-titis ruled out.
    $30 a pack sounds good. I think we paid slightly more but it was from an expensive ER clinic. Local vets charge less (a little less).
    @shelaghc @Jill & Alex (GA) @Beck and Grandpa
     
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  6. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

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    May 30, 2010
    I’m sorry to just get to you now when you tagged me a few weeks ago about pancreatitis. I had a family emergency and am just back home now.

    I’ve also used Denamarin and it does need to be given on an empty stomach at least an hour before a meal and, as Jill said, it shouldn’t be crushed. I’m really glad it worked for Ducia that way but if you don’t have to give it that way, I’d try and give it as prescribed.

    I agree with your vet that it really takes an ultrasound to see what is going on. Gracie’s specfPL was always high but she never had pancreatitis and her pancreas, on US, was beautifully normal. It was her liver enzymes that were elevated that caused us to do all the testing. As it all ended up, it wasn’t even her liver or her pancreas that was the issue....it was the intestines. The digestive organs are all so closely interrelated that impacts to one can certainly cause elevations in levels in the others.

    Please tag me if I can provide any other info.
     
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  7. Sue484

    Sue484 Well-Known Member

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    Apr 25, 2015
    It's helped my Fluffy's liver no end. Her blood work and bowels are now great and she's putting on weight but she is not diabetic.
     
  8. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    Jun 28, 2017
    I completely understand. No apologies necessary.

    The pill is *so* big I'm afraid it will choke my poor boy. He's not a happy pill taker anyway and I have to use one of those pill "guns" no matter what along with holding him in something to keep him still. He's going to wind up hating me with that 30 day prescription. :-(

    On top of that, I'm *not* a morning person. I don't have to be at work until 8:30AM and only live about fifteen minutes away. But have to get up at 6:15AM because it takes so long to get Jester to eat enough.

    Now it'll be more like 5:30AM and I'm going to be falling asleep at work......
     
  9. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    How soon after starting did either of you start to see a difference? With a 30 day supply, I'm guessing it might take a while?
     
  10. Olive & Paula

    Olive & Paula Well-Known Member

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    I haven't used it but does it have to given in the morning? Can you give an hour before evening meal or bedtime if not fed overnight?
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2018
  11. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    My evening schedule varies enough that evenings are just not feasible. Some evenings I don't get home until around 7:00PM; others I'm only home for an hour or so before leaving for several hours.

    And I'm doing all of this on my own so I have no one to sub. Mornings are the only option.
     
  12. Arathi & Yuki

    Arathi & Yuki Member

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    May 11, 2018
    I have been using denamarin since last october , as both my cats developed extremely (undiagnosed) high liver enzymes. It has seemed to have helped, and it isn't supposed to do any harm. I could not follow the strict empty stomach overnight recommendation. I give in the evenings, i wrap the pill in something like a pill pocket, and follow the give food one hour later recco. I'll be taking in my cat soon for blood tests to see if it is still working on her.

    Initially they were on two pills denamarin and destolit. Destolit I believe is supposed to help with bile flow.

    Hope this helps. Good luck!
     
  13. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    So this is an ongoing thing?
    It's not something that you give for a limited time?
     
  14. Arathi & Yuki

    Arathi & Yuki Member

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    May 11, 2018
    Yes, for my non diabetic cat it has been ongoing, yuki's levels improved so she no longer gets it. However, the underlying problem could not be diagnosed in their case.
     
  15. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

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    I didn’t really see a big difference so I switched to milk thistle. Although, it’s possible it kept things from getting worse.
     
  16. Arathi & Yuki

    Arathi & Yuki Member

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  17. Sue484

    Sue484 Well-Known Member

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    I would say Fluffy's stools started getting more normal after a week. it didn't take long at all.
     
  18. Beck and Philly

    Beck and Philly Well-Known Member

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    Jun 4, 2018
    I just gave Grandpa his pill. I used a pill pocket treat, so I hope that little bit of food doesn't counteract the empty stomach guideline.
     
  19. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    Do you need a prescription for this, or can it be bought over the counter.
     
  20. Beck and Philly

    Beck and Philly Well-Known Member

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    We ordered from Chewy.com without a prescription.
     
  21. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    @Marje and Gracie - is Milk thistle any simpler to give?
     
  22. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    Thank you, do I need to know anything specific to order. How much are you giving your kitty, and how often.
     
  23. Beck and Philly

    Beck and Philly Well-Known Member

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    Jun 4, 2018
    Update: Grandpa vomited his breakfast just now so we are going to discontinue the Denemarin. He had episodes of vomiting before we started this med, so it likely is not the culprit, but we want to simplify what is on his stomach.

    This is what we bought. Others may know more about what's available. We just follow the instructions on the back of the box and give one pill first thing in the morning an hour before breakfast. https://www.chewy.com/nutramax-dena...nTk8gnelOMCTkBvSERAjt-9Q2A2-890hoCtFIQAvD_BwE
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2018
  24. Arathi & Yuki

    Arathi & Yuki Member

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    Hi, took yuki to vet last week for bloods, her ALT had rocketed up. She is now back on denamarin. So I think denamarin had been helping my cats.
     
  25. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    I ordered Denamarin from Chewy for $25.00. It is for one of my civvies that has had a real bad year, he has anemia, high white blood count and his liver enzymes had increased from April. I ordered the denamarin for him and one vet wanted him to be put on Metacam, because he ruptured a tendon or ligament in his left leg. His left leg is useless and since he has been down so much he is treating his right leg, like he does his left. I am a little afraid of anti-inflammatory's in cats, even though I have used Metacam before on Buddy.
     
  26. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    You can get pills for a small dog or cat from Chewy and they are small.
     
  27. Arathi & Yuki

    Arathi & Yuki Member

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    Poor guy, he is having such a tough time. My vet was reluctant about giving metacam due to the elevated ALT. Would you have to give it for an extended time? I guess ask your vet about potential side effects, given the higher ALT values. Hopefully the denamarin will help support the liver.
     
  28. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    I don't think he would let him take it for very long. Buddy, my diabetic kitty took it for a while but not very long.
     
  29. Teresa & Buddy

    Teresa & Buddy Well-Known Member

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    Did your kitty take Metacam.
     
  30. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

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    Unfortunately, I no longer have the milk thistle I used that I got from my vet as it expired. Otherwise, I’d link it but I don’t even remember which one it was. However, yes, it was easy to give as it was liquid. Gracie always got a little liquid concoction of supplements and I just put it in there and syringed it.
     
  31. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    Jun 28, 2017
    Do you think it worked better than the Denamarin?
     
  32. Jessica Knight

    Jessica Knight New Member

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    Jul 18, 2018
    Our girl has been on denamarin daily since the end of April, after a bout of pancreatitis and DKA. Her numbers have improved immensely, but not sure if that would have happened without the pills either. The vet still wants her on it for now, since it really isn't a risk of harm. We've skipped it a few times and she's seemed fine without it as well. So we are hoping we can transition her off of it, since she isn't a fan of being pilled.
     
  33. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

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    May 30, 2010
    For Gracie, it did because it wasn’t so restrictive on when I could give it. I often had to manage her curve with food at night which meant she wasn’t fasted as the Denamarin required.
     
  34. shelaghc

    shelaghc Well-Known Member

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    Jun 28, 2017
    How long did you try on Denamarin before switching?
    And what form is milk thistle? Pill or powder or liquid?
     
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