MSU suggested we stop administering Valium to Myrna because it
can lead to hepatic (liver) failure. We cannot put her on any other med such as
a psychotropic due to Plavix (FDA issued a warning a few years ago about users
of Plavix avoiding Prilosec and Prozac and other psychotrophics because they
prohibit an enzyme that allows Plavix to work as a blood thinner/clot
buster.) When I told the vet that there’s
no other med she can take, he asked why she was receiving it even though I had
listed it in her history and had mentioned it earlier during the initial
exam. When I said she was anxious and
had been marking around the house, he seemed surprised. Not sure why. He was
surprised also that a heart patient would be on any such med. I told him that
no other cat at the cardiologist’s office is on a psychotrophic according to
the cardiologist. A human cardiologist that
I had spoken to said his patients are on Valium when needed and Valium is given
to pets so it’s not unusual for her to be receiving it. It’s just rare for a feline heart patient. He warned that once hepatic failure begins it
may not be reversible. She is much better on Valium and using her litter box
than spraying all over the house and being as anxious as she used to be-a state
of being we had not realized existed until the Valium had begun to take effect
on her behavior-and that’s behavior in general, not just that including the
litter box.) And the pain med Buprenex
she had been using had a limited effect and due to her heart, could not be
administered in larger or more frequent amounts. We will watch her for signs of hepatic
failure-not eating, vomiting, etc. We already
tend to do CBC/chem panel blood tests every few months so would see any indications
in her blood work if the ALT and AST levels change.
MSU also suggested we discontinue the aspirin she was
prescribed back in July by the cardiologist.
Aspirin affects the process by which the tubulars filter toxins through
the kidneys. It can lead to a decline in
kidney function but can also simply be a reason for the current issue of
urinating every two hours and can affect the ability of the kidneys to
concentrate urine, leading to her current state of low urine specific
gravity. We will discuss this with the
cardiologist at her next appointment in January at which time the usual echo
will show how well is the heart responding to all meds and if a change is
necessary. As with anything regarding
her heart, if it seems to be working, why risk changing it. It will be one of
those things that will require a lot of discussion and thought before making a
rash move of discontinuing an effective med.
However, had Myrna shown to be in kidney failure, then cessation of the
med would be of utmost importance.
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