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Avatar universal

Long term effect of prozac on cats

Im new to this forum so hi to all of you.  
I have a 14 yr old cat who has been on a low dose, (@ 2.5mg per day) prozac for the last three years.  He has alway had IBS, wich I have managed by food choices.  Recently he has sarted throwing up foam, and the frequency has ben increasing.  Tonight he just threw up foam which had brigt red blood in it. He does not appear to be in any discomfort.

I dont believe this is an emergency- would you all agree?  

Has anyone out there had their cat on long term prozac without any detrimental side effects?
For that matter, i have another geriatric cat who has been on lysene for about 8 yrs. Does anyone have any experience with that?

Thanks for any insight
Kim
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242912 tn?1660619837
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi Kim....good to hear Blue is okay.  It sounds like an isolated incident, although could be the Prozac like Opus said, and the beginning of a new issue.  I know you'll keep a close watch. :)  

Sorry to cut off my post last night...I was interrupted.  I meant to close with saying what a great job you're doing with your kitties.  You are right on top of things!  Funny but I too was the one who researched then asked for a herpes test for Jade, as my vet wasn't sure what was up either!  Thank God for the Internet, eh?

In closing, I hope Blue's blood panel comes back with everything in the normal range.  Hugs back to you and your babies.  Would love to see photos? :)
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Avatar universal
Hi,
Thanks for all your input last night.  We kept Blue isolated until his appt a 2p today.  After the incident last night he was fine.  He didnt want to eat until @ 1130, but aftr he ate he didnt have any more upsets.  Appetite was fine this morning also.
Te vet said it is not unusual for a cat to throw up blood, that sometimes they will get an irritation.  She said to watch him and make sure it has stopped, and if he is still throwing up to give him 2.5mg pecid ac.  If blood continues to be pesent, well, theres a problem.
So all that came out of the visit was Blue having a senior blood panel drawn.
Thanks again for the concern, and the L-lysine website.  I will try that.  If anyone has any homeopathic ideas for aleiviating spraying, Id like to hear them also.
Give those fur kids a hug!
Kim
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
COMMUNITY LEADER
The Lysine powder comes with it's own little plastic measuring cup that holds 500mgs.  However, my husband is a mechanical engineer, so he made me an identical one that measures 250mgs. :)  I've been told though, it doesn't have to measure perfectly, so you could just eyeball it to half the cup.  Using a clear capsule for measuring would be easier as this little cup is dark green, so hard to see the bottom...for me anyway, lol.  If you are going to bring down Dodger's mgs, I would do it slowly.  I have no idea if this was a coincidence or not, but a month ago, I didn't dose her for 2days, and the glassy, red look came back almost immediately.  

When Jade first came to us via a new neighbor 6 1/2 yrs ago, she was sooo sick.  We ended up paying for a Very expensive herpes test.  Out of  a range of 1-20, she came in at 200!  So far, she doesn't seem to have any respiratory issues, hardly ever sneezes, but it sure affects her eyes.  She used to vomit nearly every day too.  Huge improvement on Lysine!  Have used Viralys before, but she threw it up.  Not a good product anyway as Lysine is far down the ingredient list.  The link Opus left you is 'pure'.    

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Avatar universal
I am open to suggestions on Prozac alternatives.  When Blue was 10, a neighbor bought a cat, let it roam, and the male started spraying the outside of my sliding glass doors.  I have three male kitties in the house, but Blue was the only one to answered the outsider spray for spray :-)   My neighbor refused to keep her cat at home, so I started trying alternatives for Blue. I used pheremones and rescue remedy but Blue persisted in spraying until I put him on prozac.  I was so upset-10 yrs old and he had never sprayed before the outsider!  I tried taking him off prozac once and he started to spray again , even though the other cat had since got tired of the game.

Jade, sorry to hear your kitty has the herpes. Be careful with it! Dodger had it so bad that he almost lost an eye from it. My vet didnt understand what was happening, and by the time I figured it out and found a specialist, it was almost too late. Even at the dose I have Dodger on, we still duck whenever he has a sneezing fit, which is fairly frequent! Im happy to say though, it has kept him more stable. Now he just seems to get worse with weather changes.  When i found him as a 6 week old kitten he had bad respiratory issues. Hes almost 15yrs old now, and the most loving kitty I have ever had :-)  So far, knock on wood, kidneys are fine

On the lysine you have suggested, i see it is 100 g of powder. It is certainly less expensive then what I buy! Do you need to have a scale capable of measuring 250mg?  The capsules I get from the health food store contain 500mg each, so I use that as my measure.

Thanks again
Kim, Blueboy, Dodger, Chancie, and BooBear
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi Kim, I have a kitty with herpes.  Started her on Lysine July21st of this year, and I am super pleased with the results.  A daily maintenance of 250mgs seems to be all she's needed so far, and I use the powder Opus spoke of above.  I increase to 500mgs during a flare.  You know, I'm not totally sure, but it seems like kitty's weight wouldn't make a difference in mgs given.  

I googled for long term use, but didn't find anything.  Lysine long term looks to be fine other than if kitty should have kidney problems.  I did see gastric upset mentioned on higher doses (1000mgs or more).  
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
good I'm glad you are seeing the Vet in the morning....best to be sure. I am wondering why he's needed prozac for, and if he could use something in the homeo line in place of?
For pets and people alike, many times the cons out weigh the pros with meds...does he need it to calm him?

Lysine dosage is for 500mg for acute stage than usually 250 for maintenance. NO I don't have a herpes kitty, but I do keep it on hand as its good for anytime their immune system needs a pick me up.

wishing Blueboy the best, keep us updated....we worry abt our kitties on here..we are all 'parents'♥
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the reply and the information!   I checked out the prozac website and found what you are refering to.  I will bring the posibility up with the vet in the morning. Yes, I am taking it seriously. In the interim, Blueboy has been isolated from the other cats so we can monitor what happens with him and keep an eye on him in case he needs to go to the emergency vet. He has not had any more flem for the last two hrs and appears comfortable.

Do you have a herpes kitty? Thats why my Dodger is on Lysine- about 750mg per day (he ways 16lbs).  I do use a clean brand which I get from a health food store.  Ive asked my vet about long term use of lysine, and she could tell me of any studies. Dodger seems okay on it, and it really does help control his symptoms. II just wondered if the meds I have the fur kids on are worse then what they are controlling!


Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
hi Kim and welcome, I can't find any info on long term use of prozac on cats...but for your information prozac use in people can cause an upper GI bleed/hemorrhage. If I were you I'd take this very seriously.....kitty really needs to see a Vet asap.

as far as the Lysine treatment goes, that is perfectly fine to use long term...but does depend on the dosage and the brand you are using...must be free of all soy, salt, sugar,preservatives among other icky ingredients to be safe for cats. the brand I use is from Carlson Labs.

http://www.iherb.com/Carlson-Labs-L-Lysine-Amino-Acid-Powder-100-g/13608
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