Ghost has seizures

fionasmom

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I certainly understand your frustration and hopefully Ghost will be stabilized with a consistent dose and schedule. The transdermal gel being given in too low a dose makes sense...another problem which should not have occurred. At least there was not seizure last night which is one step forward.
 
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Angel7472

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When I looked at the actual prescription he was only being given 26mg/1ml. Original dose was 100mg/1ml 3x a day. Even at the 100mg/1ml every 12 hours he was being maintained. He was supposed to be given 26mg/1ml trandermal 2x a day. Which is wayyyyy below what he was taking. So the every 12 hours was already changing him from the every 8 hours. But then it went down to 26mg/1ml every 12 hours. So not too surprised he had a seizure. He was going through withdrawal.
I didn't have time to get his records due to getting a very last minute appointment. I did sign a sheet for them to call the original vet that wasn't being very co-operative with me. But I guess he didn't and just prescribed the meds as he saw fit.
Had I known what he was going to do I probably wouldn't have even said anything only because the dosage was never on the original bottle. Now I know for the future how much he's taking and to ask regarding any variations.
But I do have a question...Can't the vet technically call in a script to a local pharmacy? I'm not trying to be petty but this is a maintenance drug he's going to be on for the rest of his life. And while $90 isn't super expensive, when you calculate that over the next 14 years it adds up. It's also a huge inconvenience that the vet they use is 45 minutes from us on a good day. They did add tuna flavoring but still.
My husband and I have a system now where he picks him up and pets him while I come up behind and then shoot the drugs in his mouth. He's not happy but it gets the job done and that's with regular drugs.
 

FeebysOwner

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How very confusing for you!
Can't the vet technically call in a script to a local pharmacy?
In my case, the vet prescribes meds and fills the script - probably as you said yours is doing. BUT, you can ask for a script and tell them that you want to fill it with your own pharmacy - and they should accommodate you, up to and including the pharmacy sending a script request to the vet via online mode. My vet even offered to do so if I wanted a different formulated drug than he has available to him.

You do need to ask about their logic in the dosage change just so you know what they were thinking and at least have an appreciation for their thought process. I have always been under the assumption that transdermal doses are higher than oral - but, that may not always be the case. So, get that part straightened out with them in order to move forward.
 

fionasmom

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. As for the prescription, around here and with my vets I have never once had anyone refuse to call in a prescription to another pharmacy be it Chewy, Wedgewood, local pharmacy, etc. I have been given written script, it has been called in for me, Chewy has contacted the vet once I filled out their form...totally seamless. My local pharmacy even calls my vet for me when my dog's tramadol needs to be refilled. The only thing I was ever told was that opiates cannot be initially prescribed in a phone order from the vet as the pharmacy has to have a hard copy of the prescription.
 
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Angel7472

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He was seen by a male Dr on the 18? (can't remember the exact date) He's the one that prescribed it and said we can go to every 12 hours. This last week after I received the transdermal and he had a seizure I got the female vet. When she looked at the script that was put into his file she was also confused. She stated that maybe the meds were too high a dosage to make into a transdermal effectively and if that was the case he should have been kept on the original liquid. Either way she didn't understand the very low dosage. She was the one that called Malta first thing the day after to get the dosage from the very first vet.
If I read the Department of Veterinary recommendations for dosing, Ghost is technically on the very low end of dosing. They recommend 20-60mg per kg. Ghost is on 18.18mg per kg. At 26mg that isn't even normal dosing per vets recommendations. Again very confusing what was going on regarding the transdermal.
As far as them calling in a script it would make more sense since my husband works in town and being able to pick it up then and there. They sent it over to the compounding vet even though I told the female vet I needed it right away. I did ask her if I could get it immediately and her response was they should be able to fill this. But my husband had to drive 25 min south from his work and then north home which was 45 min. The vet never offered a script. But I also never asked. She just said all her meds go through them. I think next time when he needs a refill I will ask and see what they say. I noticed they didn't give me any refills though.
 
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Angel7472

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So, I thought I'd update everyone on what is going on. In August we tried to do every 12 hours to which Ghost responded by having seizures almost every week. So we upped his meds to every 8 hours. Everything was going well and I was finally thinking we had stabilized him but he had another one at 3am last night. He's still on the generic Keppra 1ml every 8 hours. He tolerates it well and he doesn't fight as much because he knows he won't win anymore. For the most part he takes the meds then gets treats. He runs to the pantry or my walk in closet right after his dosing. So he caught on rather quickly. I'm just disappointed ig. Thought he was doing so well to have this setback again.

The vet doesn't want to put him on other meds because of past clients that end up having more problems and would prefer me to take him to a neurologist. I know I need to but it's very expensive.
His seizures also aren't reducing in severity. If anything they're the same or worse. This morning was one of his typical seizures only he was having petit mals afterwards while lying in my bathroom. At some point I think he was so disoriented that he had a bowel movement on my bathroom floor and just laid on my bathmat next to it. The only reason why I knew it was there was I saw my older male cat go in there and thought it was odd (insomnia afterward from stress).

Anyway...:disappointed:

On a plus I did get the vet to call in a script for 180 mls to my local pharmacy and used Goodrx and got a whole bottle of meds for $15. Yay me! Too bad we may have to switch the meds.
 

fionasmom

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Thank you for the update. I am sorry that you had this setback and know it is upsetting. My experience with specialists is that they can be expensive, but the ones I have seen (none being a neurologist) almost immediately got to the bottom of the issue. Your vet may feel that he can only make good faith attempts to help Ghost as he is not a neurologist and those will continue to cost you money as well.

We have seen an oncologist, specialized surgeon, and cardiologist over the last few years. Evidently, the surgeon drops out of the picture after his work is done, but the other two have really only amounted to follow up appointments once everything was figured out.
 
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Angel7472

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The one neurologist is at University of Wisconsin Madison and they specifically have a section where they will work together with your local vet for the benefit of the cat so it's less stressful. But they do want a full day of work up. The problem is I don't have a car so my husband would be the one to take off work and they're going into their busy season. I was just hoping that the meds would work and just kinda bummed they didn't. I don't think I've slept soundly for months because every time I hear a bump I go aon alert. I was just starting to get past that and here we go again.
 

fionasmom

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I had a cat with seizures and, yes, you run any time you hear a sound. If your husband or a friend can help get you there, the policy of one full day workup in exchange for distanced communication is really very reasonable.
 
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