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How To Administer Transdermal Methimazole For Cats

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Are There Any Risk Factors For This Medication

Hyperthyroid Cats and Transdermal Methimazole

Methimazole should not be used in pets that are allergic to it, or those allergic to carbimazole or polyethylene glycol. Cats with autoimmune disease, liver disease, kidney disease, or blood and clotting diseases should not use this medication, or it should be used with extreme caution and significant monitoring. Breeding, pregnant, or nursing pets should not use this medication.

How Long Can A Cat Live On Methimazole

This varies, but on average a cat may be expected to live anywhere from two to five years with hyperthyroidism being managed with methimazole.

Variability in this estimate can be due to several factors. Younger cats diagnosed earlier with the disease may have a longer life expectancy than a much older cat who is diagnosed after effects of the disease have already taken their toll on the body.

Cats with pre-existing diseases, like kidney disease, diabetes, or primary heart disease may also fare less well with treatment of hyperthyroidism in general.

According to a study published in 2006 in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association that followed about 170 cats, about one-third treated with methimazole alone lived for two years on average. Another one-third treated with iodine-131 lived for four years on average, while the remaining one-third who were treated first with methimazole and then with iodine-131 lived the longest, at about five years.

Keep in mind that with most cats being diagnosed somewhere between 10 and 15 years of age , these life expectancy estimates are still looking at a cat making it further into later years with a decent quality of life.

Store At Room Temperature And Do Not Refrigerateimportant Information: Read Before Applying

  • All transdermal medications are packaged in pre-filled syringes that state Oral Use Only, as they are not made for giving injections.Please DO NOT give your pets transdermal medication orally, only apply topically as directed.
  • Transdermal gels need to be applied to clean skin that has little hair and is difficult for pets to lick. In general, the inside hairless part of the ear works well.
  • Alternating ears is recommended.
  • Do not apply transdermal gels to any skin that has open cuts or sores.
  • Finger cots are included with your order. Always use them to apply the medication. DO NOT apply with your bare finger.
  • You should gently clean the site of the application with dampened cotton several times a week.
  • Avoid using cotton swabs to apply the medication as most of the medication will stick to them and your pet will not receive the correct dose.

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Owner Experiences With Management

A recent study surveyed 111 owners of hyperthyroid cats about their experiences and views on the management of hyperthyroidism.5

Treatment. The final treatment decision was usually based on the veterinarians recommendation or joint decision-making between the owner and veterinarian.

  • Oral antithyroid medication was offered to 92% of owners.
  • Almost all cats had received oral antithyroid medication at some point during the course of their disease.
  • At survey completion, 69 cats were receiving oral antithyroid medication.

Results. Management of hyperthyroidism using United Kingdom veterinary-licensed oral antithyroid medication was associated with 72% to 75% success rates in terms of owner-assessed clinical outcome.

  • The most important treatment priorities for owners were:
  • Prescription of the most accurate dose of medication
  • Use of lowest possible dose.
  • No owners ranked once daily treatment as most important.
  • Over three quarters of owners said that they were, or would be, happy to dose their cats twice daily to control hyperthyroidism.
  • For 62% of owners, pilling their cats twice daily was not a problem.
  • . These results suggest that, for most cat owners, there is no barrier to prescribing twice-daily antithyroid medication, if required.5

    About Dr Chris Vanderhoof Dvm Mph

    Methimazole Transdermal EZ Derm

    Dr. Chris Vanderhoof is a 2013 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, where he also earned a Masters in Public Health. He completed a rotating internship with Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey and now works as a general practitioner in the Washington D.C. area.Dr. Vanderhoof is also a copywriter specializing in the animal health field and founder of Paramount Animal Health Writing Solutions, which can be found at www.animalhealthcopywriter.com. Dr. Vanderhoof lives in the Northern Virginia area with his family, including 3 cats.

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    How Is Methimazole Given

    Methimazole is administered by mouth in the form of an oral tablet or is compounded as an oral liquid. It can also be applied to hairless skin in the form of a transdermal gel. This medication can take days to weeks before effects are noted, and sometimes effects are not visibly obvious.

    The oral form can be given with food or an empty stomach, but if your pet vomits or acts sick after receiving the medication without food, give it with food or a small treat. Follow all directions on the label, especially for compounded medications, and measure the liquid or gel doses carefully. This medication must be given for life, as it manages hyperthyroidism it does not provide a cure.

    Pregnant and nursing women, or women who may become pregnant should wear gloves when handling the medication, cat litter, or body fluids from treated pets. Anyone applying the transdermal gel should wear gloves during administration.

    How Should This Medication Be Stored

    Keep the medication at room temperature, but do not expose to any extremes in heat or cold. The preparation has an expiry date which indicates the date beyond which time you should not continue to use the gel and/or when the gel should be replaced with a new batch. If there is any discoloration or separation of the product within the time defined by the beyond use date, discontinue use and contact our pharmacist.

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    Dosing And Administration Of Mirataz

    Administer topically by applying a 1.5-inch ribbon of ointment on the inner pinna of the cats ear once daily for 14 days .

    Step 1:Wear disposable gloves. Twist cap on tube counterclockwise to open.

    Step 2:Apply even pressure on tube and squeeze a 1.5-inch line of ointment onto your gloved finger using the measured line on the carton or in the package insert.

    Step 3:Using your gloved finger, gently rub ribbon of ointment on inside pinna of the cats ear spreading it evenly over the surface. Dispose of used gloves after each application. If contact with your skin occurs wash thoroughly with soap and warm water.

    After application, care should be taken that people or other animals in the household do not come in contact with the treated cat for 2 hours because mirtazapine can be absorbed transdermally and orally.

    What Is This Medication

    Using Transdermal Medications for your Pet

    The preparation dispensed for your cat is a transdermal gel containing the drug Methimazole. The concentration of Methimazole will vary depending on what your Veterinarian has ordered. Commonly prescribed doses are 1mg, 2.5mg, 3.5mg, and 5.0mg. In an attempt to keep the amount of gel for each dosing application, as small as possible, the mg amounts mentioned above are usually contained in volumes no larger than 0.1ml. The transdermal gel allows the drug to be transported across the skin barrier, to gain access to the micro-circulation of the animals blood stream. This allows the drug to reach the thyroid gland, which is the target organ for this drug. The transdermal gel use may be one of several varieties including pluronic lecithin organogel or Lipoderm® gel/cream.

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    Pharmacology And Mechanism Of Action

    Methimazole is an important antithyroid drug used mostly in cats. The action of methimazole is to serve as substrate for thyroid peroxidase and decrease incorporation of iodide into tyrosine molecules for the formation of thyroxine and triiodothyronine . Methimazole inhibits coupling of mono- and di-iodinated residues to form T4 and T3. Methimazole does not inhibit release of preformed thyroid hormone. It does not affect existing thyroid hormones already circulating or stored in the thyroid gland and does not inhibit the peripheral conversion of T4 to T3. It generally takes 24 weeks for serum T4 to reach the normal range in hyperthyroid cats treated with methimazole. Carbimazole is a similar drug used in Europe that is converted to methimazole in animals. Methimazole also may have immunosuppressive effects. Treatment may decrease antithyrotropin-receptor antibodies.

    Pharmacokinetics: The pharmacokinetics have been limited to studies in cats. Methimazole has a half-life of 2.33.1 hours in hyperthyroid cats and 4.7 hours in normal cats. Oral absorption in cats is high .

    Mark G. Papich DVM, MS, DACVCP, in, 2016

    Felimazole Methimazole Dosage For Cats By Weight

    Methimazole or Felimazole should only be given to your kitty with vet advice.

    According to the veterinarians, the safe dose of methimazole for cats is 2.5-5 mg per cat twice a day with a time gap of 12 hours. The dosage of Methimazole Transdermal Gel or Cream is 2.5 mg to the inside of the earflap twice a day.

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    Methimazole For Cats: Felimazole Dosage Chart By Weight

    Methimazole for cats also known as Thiamazole is an Antithyroid medication used to treat feline hyperthyroidism. So what is a safe Methimazole dosage for Cats?

    Methimazole popular brands namesTapazole®, Felimazole® are mostly prescribed by the veterinarian to treat cats Hyperthyroidism. However, Felimazole is an FDA-approved drug for hyperthyroidism treatment in cats.

    Knowing about the safe dosage of Methimazole for felines and other medication is essential for every kitty owner. Giving the medicine in the wrong amount may harm more than benefit.

    Hyperthyroidism is a common health concern, and every cat can suffer from it however, older and senior cats are more exposed.

    Proper and timely treatment is essential to control the risk of complications.

    Hyperthyroidism leads cats to excessive weight loss, weakness, restlessness, abnormal appetite, behavioral changes, and cardiac problems.

    This article is a comprehensive guide about Methimazole for Cats. You can use the table of content for smooth navigation.

  • What happens if you dont treat Hyperthyroidism in cats?
  • What Is A Transdermal Medication

    Methimazole Transdermal EZ Derm

    Transdermal medications are applied onto the skin for absorption into the bloodstream. While transdermal and topical medications are both applied on the skin, they differ in function. Topical medications are meant for treating the skin, while transdermal medicines are intended to be absorbed by the skin, for the circulatory system to transport to their target organs.

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    What Is This Medication Used For

    Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism. The drug can be used orally or in a transdermal form, in animals as well as humans. Where the thyroid gland is hyperactive, resulting in the condition known as hyperthyroidism. Methimazole is used to reduce thyroid gland activity and therefore reducing circulating blood levels of thyroid hormone.

    What Should You Do To Protect Your Cats

    What Should You Do To Protect Your Cats?

    If your cats develop any sign of an infection, immediately contact your veterinarian. Unfortunately, in the worst case, if your sick lovely friend is suffering from overactive thyroid , he/she is sure to continue to deteriorate and ultimately pass away from his/her condition, especially if you do not take him/her to your vet office for a thorough examination.

    For all diseases, the goal in veterinary medicine is synonymous with treating for a cure. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To save yourself from worrying about Methimazole For Cats How Fast Does It Work, why not give them frequent check-ups? That way, your cats will continue to be loving and sweet.

    How to breathe a sigh of relief that your cats do not need to take methimazole? How to save yourself from thinking about Methimazole For Cats How Fast Does It Work? Give your cats much more care and love!

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    Applying Transdermal Medications To Cats With Topi

    Cats are wonderful pets. They can be cuddly, playful, loving, and silly. However, applying medication to your cat is not always easy because they can become squirmy and uncooperative. Thankfully, there is a new product on the market called the Topi-CLICK Micro that makes applying transdermal medication to your cat much easier. This post will discuss benefits of using the Topi-CLICK Micro and how to use it safely and correctly to apply your cat’s medication.

    The Topi-CLICK Micro is a specially designed medication dispenser. The topical medication is loaded into the chamber of the dispenser. Then, the medication can be dispensed by turning the base of the dispenser one turn dispenses 0.05 mL of medication, two turns dispenses 0.10 mL, etc. Once the medication is dispensed it stays on the tip of the applicator, and then you can easily rub the medication into the inside ear flap of the cat’s ear. The Topi-CLICK Micro also offers a number of tip options for the applicator that you can choose from. Using the Topi-CLICK Micro ensures that you apply the correct amount of medication to your pet, and it also eliminates the hassle and possible danger of applying the medication with your finger where the medication may pose a hazard to the owner.

    Applying topical medication to your cat does not have to be a chore. The Topi-CLICK Micro makes applying medications quick and easy, so that you and your cat can go back to cuddling or playtime.

    What Should You Do If You Want To Give Methimazole To Your Cat

    Applying transdermal methimazole to my cat’s ear

    What Should You Do If You Want To Give Methimazole To Your Cat?

    What should you do if you want to give your cat methimazole? Discussion with your veterinarian is sure to be necessary! Theres nothing wrong with methimazole just in case you are ready to tolerate a high side-effect rate of up to 20%. If you do not want to get angry when your cats have an adverse reaction to methimazole, tell your veterinarian everything about your cats health condition. Whether your furry four-legged pets are nursing or pregnant, or they have an allergy to methimazole, or they have a blood cell disorder, any liver disease, or a weak immune system, make sure to report everything to your vet.

    If the commercially available methimazole medications cannot meet the special demand of cats with hyperthyroidism, your vet is likely to prescribe compounded methimazole which is both strong and appropriately sizeable enough for your four-legged friends from a compounding pharmacy. Also, it is not a bad idea to inform him/her of any other medication such as supplements and vitamins your cats may be taking while they are having methimazole.

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    Methimazole For Cats Dosage

    The FDA-approved brand name product Felimazole is a tablet given by mouth.

    Per the label for the FDA-approved product Felimazole for cats, the dose for methimazole starts at 2.5 milligrams per cat every 12 hours. The dose is then titrated/adjusted depending on recheck lab work after three weeks. The dose should only be adjusted in 2.5-milligram increments.

    The maximum total dose for Felimazole is 20 milligrams per day divided in two 12-hours doses of not more than 10 milligrams each.

    Many cats with hyperthyroidism may be regulated well at 2.5 milligrams twice a day, though adjustments may be needed, which is why recheck lab work is so important, especially when starting out.

    In cats that dont tolerate the tablet form of methimazole, either because of digestive upset effects, or a kitty parent having difficulty at home giving a tablet to their cat, oral liquid and topical transdermal preparations can be formulated through compounding pharmacies.

    While easier to administer, it is important to note that the transdermal preparation often does not work as efficiently or as well as the oral form, often taking longer to reach levels of control, and requiring higher doses.

    The transdermal form should also always be applied by a human with gloves so as to prevent absorption of the medication through their own skin by accident.

    How Do I Administer A Transdermal Medication To My Pet

    The ideal application site for transdermal medications is one that has minimal hair and that cannot be easily licked or rubbed. Some pets may require shaving to allow for better administration. The inside of the outer ear flap is an excellent area for many pets.

    Most transdermal medications will come in pre-dosed syringes or in gel form that you can draw into a syringe to the prescribed dosage. You should wear protective gloves when handling transdermal medications. Remember that these drugs have been formulated to cross the skin barrier, so you can potentially be exposed if you come in contact with them.

    “To avoid being exposed to the drug, wear protective gloves when handling transdermal medications.”

    If your pet is prescribed a transdermal gel, you may need someone to assist you, especially at first. Here are some tips for administration:

    • have your helper gently hold your pet and distract it by petting or offering a toy or treat.
    • make sure the area on the ear where you are going to apply the medication is clean and dry.
    • slowly and deliberately apply the correct amount of medication onto your pets ear.
    • if necessary, gently rub the gel into the skin to facilitate absorption using your gloved fingertip or the tip of the syringe. It is important not to leave a clump, glob, or thick area of medication on the ear because it will be easily dislodged if your pet shakes its head after administration.

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    Best Use Of Antithyroid Drugs

    Hypertension, progression of chronic kidney disease, iatrogenic hypothyroidism, and persistence of hyperthyroidism are all concerns when managing patients with hyperthyroidism. A recent paper described the best practice of using antithyroid drugs for pharmacologic management of hyperthyroid cats.4

    Treatment. Two drugs have been licensed for cats in the last decade: methimazole and its prodrug carbimazole. Based on current evidence and available tablet sizes, recommended starting doses include:

    • Methimazole: 2.5 mg PO Q 12 H Carbimazole : 10 to 15 mg PO Q 24 H.

    These doses should then be titrated to effect in order to obtain circulating total thyroxine concentrations in the lower half of the reference interval.

    Monitoring. Patients should be monitored for side effects, especially during the first months of treatment. Some side effects may require discontinuation of treatment.

    At each monitoring visit, clinical condition and quality of life should also be evaluated, with special attention to possible development of azotemia, hypertension, and iatrogenic hypothyroidism.

    When euthyroidism has been achieved, monitoring visits are recommended after 1 month, 3 months, and twice yearly thereafter.

    Survival Time. Cats with pre-existing azotemia have shorter survival times. However, development of mild azotemia during the initial course of treatment, unless associated with hypothyroidism, does not appear to decrease survival time.

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