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Shamrock's poor skin condition
Just doing a little homework ahead of time and I had posted in amv about
antihistamine use in cats. I am so hesitant to keep getting him steroid shots since there is FeLV in the house and steroids lower the immune system. Not sure if antihistamines do, but the vet said they were worth trying. A couple of vets said antihistamines may actually be a good thing to try. Shamrocks vet said it couldn't hurt. His old vet didn't want to try it because they would make him drowsy. Anyone else use these for skin problems where you can't find the cause or the allergen? BRAND NAME: CLOR-TRIMETON AVAILABLE IN 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg & 12 mg TABLETS AS WELL AS ORAL SYRUP AND INJECTABLE BACKGROUND Histamine is an inflammatory biochemical that causes skin redness, swelling, pain, increased heart rate, and blood pressure drop when it binds to one of many "H1" receptors throughout the body. Histamine is a very important mediator of allergy in humans, hence a spectacular array of different antihistamines has proliferated. Histamine, perhaps unfortunately, is not as important a mediator of inflammation in pets which means results of antihistamine therapy are not as reliable in pets. HOW THIS MEDICATION IS USED Chlorpheniramine maleate has several important effects and thus several uses. Most obviously, this medication is an antihistamine and it is used for acute inflammatory and allergic conditions such as: Snake Bites Vaccination reactions Blood transfusion reactions Bee stings and insect bites The management of itchy skin Chlorpheniramine maleate is frequently included in antihistamine trials for allergic skin disease. It is not one of the more effective antihistamines in dogs but is one of the most reliably effective antihistamines in the cat (in one study 73% of itchy cats responded). Its availability and inexpensiveness make it worth trying in many cases. Click here for more information on the management of itchy skin. Mast cell tumors are tumors involving cells which contain granules of histamine. Patients with mast cell tumors experience chronic inflammatory symptoms due to circulating histamine. Antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine maleate may be helpful given long term. Chlorpheniramine maleate has a strong anti-nauseal side effect which makes it helpful in treating motion sickness. Chlorpheniramine maleate causes drowsiness in animals just as it does in people and can be used as a mild tranquilizer. Some argue that it is the drowsiness side effect that makes this medication appear to be helpful in itch management (i.e. patients scratch less because they are sleeping more.) Convenient dosing makes it a common choice in the cat. It is often used in the management of feline asthma though its effectiveness in this condition is controversial. Click here for more information on feline asthma. Chlorpheniramine maleate is typically administered 2-3 times daily. SIDE EFFECTS With so many possible uses of this medication, it is difficult to separate out a side effect from a primary effect. Drowsiness is generally regarded as an undesirable side effect. At doses higher than the recommended dose, human patients complain of dry mouth and experience difficulty with urination. Animal patients experiencing dry mouth may drink more water. Chlorpheniramine maleate is famous for bitter taste. Often the pet (especially cats) will tolerate the medication for a period of time but ultimately refuse to take it or even show salivation in response to administration. In such cases, it may be best to try a different medication. INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS In the treatment of allergic skin disease, antihistamines are felt to synergize with omega 3 fatty acid supplements and, as a general rule for this condition, it is best to use these medications together. Chlorpheniramine maleate should not be used with additional tranquilizing medications. This antihistamine is used in an assortment of human products where it is combined with pain relievers and antihistamines. These “combination” products should not be used in animals. CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS When using an antihistamine to prevent an allergic reaction (such as a vaccine reaction) the antihistamine works best when given prior to the allergen. This medication will interfere with allergic skin testing. Check with your veterinary dermatologist regarding how far in advance this medication should be withheld. http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_clor-trimeton.html Note of my own: for bitter meds I put them in a gelcap (Flagyl is one that has the same bitter tasting side effect) -- Cheryl "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller |
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