Solensia! - new arthritis injection

[nanniecat]

My 15-year-old babe, Nova, got her first injection of Solensia for OA on 12/16/22. She showed immediate improvement. Brighter expression, better general mobility, more playful, able to jump more easily. All of it so positive I was thrilled. It was like getting my girl back.

But then I started reading more about the drug and have become concerned. There's not much history to this drug treatment in cats, so there's no information on the long-term effects it may have on our beloved cats. All the studies I have been able to find were clinical trials that included only two treatments, and in some cases only one treatment. How could they possibly know if it is safe long-term with only two injections? Worst of all, in the Conflict of Interest/Ethics section of each study I read it was revealed that the studies were written by contributors employed by the drug's manufacturer. Not exactly objective research, and a likelihood that some of the less positive aspects of long-term treatment were either untested for a reason or glossed over. They're trying to sell this drug, after all.

My point is, Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) plays an important role in a lot of other physiological systems, so injecting our kitties with an anti-NGF drug like Solensia may or may not have some unintended negative consequences that have not been made clear.

I'm not a vet, or even a scientist. Just a loving pet owner who would do anything for her babe. I wanted to share my concern with others who are trying Solensia for their cats. It's difficult to make a good decision when there's so little data on its effects. Talk to your vet about what consequences there might be with long-term use of an anti-NGF monoclonal antibody drug.

" anti-NGF drug like Solensia may or may not have some unintended negative consequences that have not been made clear. " what could they be? any idea?

 

[FeebysOwner]

how is feeby? did she get her third shot?

Yes, I noted so in Post #13 above - she is actually almost due for #4. And I think the 3rd one did make an even greater difference. As I said, her mobility is so much better as she is no longer restricting her movements by confining herself to one room. No, she is not running around like a younger cat, but I didn't expect that to happen! Just glad to give her some of her mobility back!

 

[FeebysOwner]

" anti-NGF drug like Solensia may or may not have some unintended negative consequences that have not been made clear. " what could they be? any idea?

Did you read this? It may answer your question.
Solensia (frunevetmab injection) for Cats - Drugs.com

 

[neely]

Carleton goes in for his six-month senior check up and T-4 test at the end of this month. The last time I talked with our vet who is a feline specialist she said she was apprehensive about using Solensia. I'll be curious to hear what she says in a few weeks.

 

[FeebysOwner]

The last time I talked with our vet who is a feline specialist she said she was apprehensive about using Solensia. I'll be curious to hear what she says in a few weeks.

That's somewhat depressing. Please keep us posted on her reasoning if you can.

 

[neely]

I'm not sure why she said it or what she's basing it on but since I wasn't considering it for Carleton yet I didn't ask any questions. However, I'll be sure to discuss it with her at his appointment.

 

[nanniecat]

Did you read this? It may answer your question.
Solensia (frunevetmab injection) for Cats - Drugs.com

thnx! may take me a few days to digest it all! its a lot to understand! i am laughing because she is in a follow up study for it and i wonder if she is the 1 with aggressive behavior and vocalization? i just wonder if it is affecting her brain in some way? i did consult her onco and 3 diff unassociated vets and only 1 said "I'D WAIT" seeing her happy to be able to jump on the bed to be with me is everything. i know she was depressed being on a pallet on the floor all the time. everything has a price. she has had to overcome so much in her life.now i have to go looking for her all the time to c what room she is in. the mobility is so much better.i am happy for yall

 

[FeebysOwner]

nanniecat - any update on the vocalization issue with Placide? Also, didn't you say she was part of a follow-up study for Solensia?
Anyone else experiencing extra vocalization?

Feeby's is howling - not all the time, but at varying times of the day, though rarely at night. No particular pattern that I can isolate. Mostly when she is awake from one of her many naps and is wandering about the house. It has been going on for a while now, and I've been looking at her other health issues but none seem to connect with howling. She is hyperthyroidic but her T-4 is good as of a re-check in January. I suppose it could be related to dementia - which at her age (18+ yo) I can't entirely rule out.

So, just this week, I asked my husband if he thought it could coincide close to the time she started Solensia, he thought it might be possible. She is due for her 6th injection and I am just wondering if I should not get it and see if something changes. This wasn't a 'miracle' drug for her, but it did stop her limping and she does seem to move about with more ease than before.

 

[nanniecat]

nanniecat - any update on the vocalization issue with Placide? Also, didn't you say she was part of a follow-up study for Solensia?
Anyone else experiencing extra vocalization?

Feeby's is howling - not all the time, but at varying times of the day, though rarely at night. No particular pattern that I can isolate. Mostly when she is awake from one of her many naps and is wandering about the house. It has been going on for a while now, and I've been looking at her other health issues but none seem to connect with howling. She is hyperthyroidic but her T-4 is good as of a re-check in January. I suppose it could be related to dementia - which at her age (18+ yo) I can't entirely rule out.

So, just this week, I asked my husband if he thought it could coincide close to the time she started Solensia, he thought it might be possible. She is due for her 6th injection and I am just wondering if I should not get it and see if something changes. This wasn't a 'miracle' drug for her, but it did stop her limping and she does seem to move about with more ease than before.

omg! this sounds so familiar! Placide had her 9th? shot today. (maybe 8th). she went thru the howling period, then the not eating period, and the combative period. i was discussing it w/friend with no cats a while back. she commented that SHE noticed it was when the shot was almost due! this was a couple mo ago and she was due in a couple of days! #cantseetheforestforthetrees so i kept a log. indeed. she had the honeymoon period and then the crazies and not eating much. NOW i think its because they do get relief fr the pain, mobility improves but towards the end it wears off. the pain, discomfort comes back. i am able to c it clearer now. i am much more patient with her! and at the last shot the tech reminded me that she was 20 yo and wl be 21 the end of this year.we were a few days late this mo., and what i noticed, was she would cry to eat but would walk away! not a lot of howling. but she got the shot tdy, i fed her and she is quietly laying on her pallet. maybe u could keep a log and it wl help u. but i think t is a reaction to the pain that is back. honestly, no longer having to limp and the ability to move around better is a miracle for her! there is no alternative, sadly. placide is still on 50mg gaba 2 xs daily . it may help a little but i am fearful of taking her off of it. i dont think t does her any harm. good luck! i hope this info helps

 

[FeebysOwner]

nanniecat , thanks for replying. I don't see any sort of quelling in the howling (no rhyme intended, just poor choice of words) once she has gotten another injection when compared to when one is due. I did start logging her howling, but tbh, it is really very hard to chart each and every time she does it. For the days I tried, I was making as many as 17 log entries a day. But I was also looking for patterns in terms of times of day, etc. Maybe I just need to make checkmarks/tick marks for each time and see if it is less after a shot compared to right before. I also have not seen a pattern with her eating relative to it either.

No gabapentin - I've tried 4 or 5 different compounded versions and she has picked up on all of them and will reject them no matter how I try to give it to her. The last two times I gave it to her she immediately vomited it up, so that was the end of that.

Anyway, glad you know what to expect and have been able to track a pattern! I guess I will go ahead and give her the 6th shot and try a different approach to some sort of log.

 

[nanniecat]

nanniecat , thanks for replying. I don't see any sort of quelling in the howling (no rhyme intended, just poor choice of words) once she has gotten another injection when compared to when one is due. I did start logging her howling, but tbh, it is really very hard to chart each and every time she does it. For the days I tried, I was making as many as 17 log entries a day. But I was also looking for patterns in terms of times of day, etc. Maybe I just need to make checkmarks/tick marks for each time and see if it is less after a shot compared to right before. I also have not seen a pattern with her eating relative to it either.

No gabapentin - I've tried 4 or 5 different compounded versions and she has picked up on all of them and will reject them no matter how I try to give it to her. The last two times I gave it to her she immediately vomited it up, so that was the end of that.

Anyway, glad you know what to expect and have been able to track a pattern! I guess I will go ahead and give her the 6th shot and try a different approach to some sort of log.

the biggest take away for me was realizing she was hurting. i keep a placide calender on the fridge . i just made a notation on the days i noticed it.it was enlightening. i hope u can figure it out.

 

[FeebysOwner]

the biggest take away for me was realizing she was hurting. i keep a placide calender on the fridge . i just made a notation on the days i noticed it.it was enlightening. i hope u can figure it out.

That is the absolute most depressing thing I can imagine, if Feeby is hurting every time she howls. On that note, I almost hope it is dementia related. I don't think I will see such an enlightening pattern as you did - but I am glad that you did.

 

[Tobermory]

Anyone else experiencing extra vocalization?

Iris (almost 19) got her first Solensia shot two weeks ago. That evening and through the night, she paced and yowled. She finally stopped at 4 a.m. when I got down on the floor with her. Now she’s back to her normal yowling which she does when she goes into the room where the litter boxes are. Whether she uses them or not, she still talks about it.

I haven’t observed any difference in her body language in terms of her comfort level. She’s also on 150 mg. a day of gabapentin. I hope I’ll be able to see a difference after her next shot.

 

[nanniecat]

That is the absolute most depressing thing I can imagine, if Feeby is hurting every time she howls. On that note, I almost hope it is dementia related. I don't think I will see such an enlightening pattern as you did - but I am glad that you did.
[/QUOTE
she went on the gaba originally for early dementia. i hope u r [pleasantly surprised to find a pattern that will help u help her. keep me posted

 

[Tobermory]

On that note, I almost hope it is dementia related.

Iris started the howling more than a year ago, the same time she started carrying yarn balls around and yowling with them in her mouth. I do think she has a touch of dementia, and my vet said it isn’t unusual with the super seniors.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I haven’t observed any difference in her body language in terms of her comfort level. She’s also on 150 mg. a day of gabapentin. I hope I’ll be able to see a difference after her next shot.

There was some slight appreciable difference in Feeby after injection #2, but I think it took a 3rd injection for me to really see the benefit. Hopefully, Iris won't have to wait as long!

Now she’s back to her normal yowling which she does when she goes into the room where the litter boxes are. Whether she uses them or not, she still talks about it.

Does anyone profess to know/suggest what her behavior is about? Feeby does that too, but she also howls as she wanders around the house regardless of whether or not she is headed to the litter box.

 

[nanniecat]

Iris (almost 19) got her first Solensia shot two weeks ago. That evening and through the night, she paced and yowled. She finally stopped at 4 a.m. when I got down on the floor with her. Now she’s back to her normal yowling which she does when she goes into the room where the litter boxes are. Whether she uses them or not, she still talks about it.

I haven’t observed any difference in her body language in terms of her comfort level. She’s also on 150 mg. a day of gabapentin. I hope I’ll be able to see a difference after her next shot.

i noticed a difference around the 3rd shot.. she started jumping on the bed again,grooming herself.

 

[nanniecat]

There was some slight appreciable difference in Feeby after injection #2, but I think it took a 3rd injection for me to really see the benefit. Hopefully, Iris won't have to wait as long!

Does anyone profess to know/suggest what her behavior is about? Feeby does that too, but she also howls as she wanders around the house regardless of whether or not she is headed to the litter box.

i have discussed it with 2 reg vets, i cat vet. they shrugged it off. with the comment "well she's old" . i said im old too but i am not howling! 4 diff vet techs said they hear abt it fr owners with senior cats. one of the vets just upped her gaba. i think they r not too concerned cause they dont live with it. but one vet i know has an older needy cat that will only eat with someone with her. i did a lot of online research and the conclusion was old age if they cant find anything medically wrong. ?

 

[Tobermory]

There was some slight appreciable difference in Feeby after injection #2, but I think it took a 3rd injection for me to really see the benefit

i noticed a difference around the 3rd shot.. she started jumping on the bed again,grooming herself

I would be SO happy to see Iris get some relief! Watching her walk hurts my heart.

Does anyone profess to know/suggest what her behavior is about? Feeby does that too, but she also howls as she wanders around the house regardless of whether or not she is headed to the litter box.

No, no idea. But it sounds like Iris is doing what Feeby does: pacing around the house and letting out the occasional loud vocalization. Given how stiff she is, I’m surprised at how much she walks around.

She does seem obsessed with her yarn balls, though. She even carries them in and drops them into the litter box when she pees. This usually happens at about 3 or 4 a.m. and then she comes into the bedroom and tells me all about it.

 

[nanniecat]

I would be SO happy to see Iris get some relief! Watching her walk hurts my heart.

No, no idea. But it sounds like Iris is doing what Feeby does: pacing around the house and letting out the occasional loud vocalization. Given how stiff she is, I’m surprised at how much she walks around.

She does seem obsessed with her yarn balls, though. She even carries them in and drops them into the litter box when she pees. This usually happens at about 3 or 4 a.m. and then she comes into the bedroom and tells me all about it.

i used to cry watching placide. and she would try to get in the bed but fall. but i feel like the solensia will help iris. seems like most cats r on that 3-4 am schedule! placide eats her biggest meal then! she may still do the yarn balls tho