Urgent help/advice required !

[webblies]

Hi guys

I have a really serious problem with cat Gizmos medication. About 2.5 years ago he was very seriously ill with a blocked bladder.As you will know is potentially life threatening.
He was in the vets for a week and repeatedly catheterized.

Eventually they put him on myotonine, which help control bladder function. They also prescribed a special diet which he is on for life. He has responded very well to this and been fine ever since.

Unfortunately there is no other medication, other than myotonine, that will work.

I called the vets the other day to reorder - to be told that due to a fire in the pharmaceutical factory there was a national shortage of this drug.

My vet has searched the net, telephoned vets and even tried the NHS but these tablets are just not available anywhere, They are not going to be available again until sometime in July ! Meantime Gizmo is rapidly running out of tablets and his life could be in danger,

Any suggestions - would really appreciate any help ?

Gx

[angieh]

I am so sorry about this problem - do hope you can locate a source of the drug soon.

[alexgirl73]

I'm afraid I have no advice. Is there not another drug he could be put on (my cat had a blocked bladder and his has been controlled by diet)

[Elaine]

I have found this but I dont know if it will help. Scroll to the bottom for a list of suppliers, dont know if they have what you are looking for but wish you and your kitty all the very best xxx
http://www.spinal.co.uk/pdf/factsheet_bladdermanagement.pdf

[Elaine]

This link might be better.
http://buy-online.1gokurimu.com/nateglinide.html

[Mags]

Are they the same tablets that a doctor prescribes?

Found this link....

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/myotonine-chloride-tablet-10mg_4_15550.html

[webblies]

I'm afraid I have no advice. Is there not another drug he could be put on (my cat had a blocked bladder and his has been controlled by diet)

No sorry I should have mentioned. There are no other drug alternatives and he is already on a prescribed diet for his condition.

Gx

[webblies]

This link might be better.
http://buy-online.1gokurimu.com/nateglinide.html


Thanks for that.

Not sure whether these would be allowed thro customs even with a prescription.

Gx

[webblies]

Are they the same tablets that a doctor prescribes?

Found this link....

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/myotonine-chloride-tablet-10mg_4_15550.html

Hi

Yes spotted that site earlier. But do tp the national shortage, they are out of stock.

Thanks tho

Gx

[Elaine]

I am sorry, I hope you can get some in time xxx

[Mags]

Could you maybe, try another vet in your area to see if they have any in stock and would let you have some? :?

[webblies]

Hi again

The good news is I have sourced a months supply from another vet. So that buys us some time.

Thanks you for all your help and support. It is very much appreciated.

Gx

[yola]

Pleased to be reading that! Are you able to source from an overseas website maybe and get them shipped if you suspect you could run out again?

[Mags]

What a huge relief that must be to you! I hope you have enough tablets to see Gizmo through until the factory gets back into operation..

Wishing you and Gizmo all the best..:D

[angieh]

Thanks for letting us know you've found at least a stop gap. Maybe the manufacturers will switch production to another site.........

[webblies]

Pleased to be reading that! Are you able to source from an overseas website maybe and get them shipped if you suspect you could run out again?

Hi again guys,

Well I have now sourced a further supply of 50. So now I have 80 and am reasonably sure they will be back in production in July. The problem before was they couldn't say when in July and Gizmo only had a weeks tablets left - hence the panic.

I did think about trying to get them shipped in from overseas but wasn't sure about customs with them just coming to me rather than a vets practice.

The thing is my vet assured me he had rung all the local vets/ veterinary hospitals and even the NHS county hospital. I rang the first local the veterinary hospital and vets in the Yellow pages, and sure enough, they not only have Myotonine but haven't even heard of the shortage !!

This would suggest that my vet really didn't try too hard. In fact we even discussed if he would need to be catheterized or have his bladder expressed in future - all of which is very traumatic for Giz and costs lots.

Maybe I am a little niave but I like to think that vets are primarily in it for the love of animals and will therefore go the extra mile.

Maybe I am being cynical, but it makes you wonder.

Gx

[Elaine]

That all sounds a little odd doesnt it? I think I'd be inclined to quiz the vet on this and possibly even change vets. I dont think I'd want to be involved with a vet that has lied to me about something like that, especially as the cats life may have been at risk.

[angieh]

Yeah, I agree with Elaine. It sounds like your vet has spun you a line on this. I'd change your vet ASAP.

[dandysmom]

I was off Catsey looking for a supplier: found this Canadian pharmacy and was wondering if your vet could contact them for a supply. However, it seems as if you're OK now, thank goodness. but you might want to check this link for future reference.....

http://www.pharmawebglobal.com/drugs/Myotonine

Oh, and I agree that I'd look for another vet......

[webblies]

Hi

Thanks for links and replies. Not sure whether he has lied to me but it certainly looks that way.

Consequently, Gizmo and his three other brothers are now moving to another vets. So one way or another my vet has potentially lost a lot of business !

Gx

[SusanK]

Another drug they can use is Hypovase - if a problem with Myotonine and we have been told its November for the next lot so may need to look for alternatives which this is.

[webblies]

Another drug they can use is Hypovase - if a problem with Myotonine and we have been told its November for the next lot so may need to look for alternatives which this is.

Thanks for the info. So how does HYPOVASE work ?

Have you been told for sure that Myotonine is not available until November ?

G
x

[Jac]

That sounds a bit worrying. I hope you get sorted.

[Andreea]

Hello there,

I only have registered because I saw your SOS message ref the Bethanechol.

I found a website: www.canadadrugs.com
They have got it in stock and it takes 21 days to ship it to UK. They will need an e-mailed or faxed prescription from the vet.

You can e-mail me at greypearse@yahoo.co.uk and I will provide more info if you wish.
I am currently trying to source some from a vet in Plymouth as I am running out on Sunday and I need the same drug.

The story of my cat Jeremy is rather complicated, he seems the healthiest chap, however something got him in April and damaged some of his spinal nerves. He had been in hospital for ten weeks until we managed to bring him to our new home (have relocated from Licolnshire to Cornwall).
Jeremy cannot fully urinate on his own, yet he hates and cannot be expressed. I think he has become the most expensive cat and the insurance money will run out soon. I just take every day as it comes and I hope that I will not have a nervous breakdown, I can't afford one. Besides, we lost all of a sudden his brother, the most loving and playful cat on the planet....... Ok, sorry to bother you with this.

I noticed that you mentioned the name of the drug Hypovase. This is a smooth muscle antispasmodic and will not substitute the Bethanechol.

The Bethanechol does the oposite, contracts the bladder.

Take every care

[Mags]

Hello Andreea, thank you so much for your very helpful post ......I'm sure Webblies will be grateful for the information you have given regarding Bethanechol - as will any other member who used the same drug for their cat.

I'm so sorry to hear about Jeremy, I hope he continues to have some quality of life and you are able to obtain this drug to help your dear boy.

So sad you lost his brother, life can be cruel at times can't it...:(

[Andreea]

Hello Maggs,

Thank you for your kind words. I am more than happy to share with people the info I get or to be helpful if I can.

I know that I have to come to terms of loosing Thomas for now, yet I have the faith that we will be reunited one day. This thought gives me the strength to live day by day and accept that death is part of life.
I do not know for how long Jeremy will be with me, however, every day is a gift. I stopped taking life for granted and I stopped making long term plans.

Take care,
A

[webblies]

Hi Andreea

Thanks so much for taking the trouble to post the info. I am sending you an email.

Gx

[andypivett]

Hi
i found your cry for help whilst i was looking for the exact same thing. I know some time has passed since your email and i really hope you have found something that works by now but incase you havent i have had the same problem with my cat Denzel, my vet contacted a specialist and they recommended he try dantrium instead it works differently by relaxing the muscle sphincter in the bladder rather than helping the bladder contract but so far so good with Denzel, although it is early days. It is quite difficult to give to him because it is a capsule that you need to split into 10!!!! but its worth the messing (touch wood!)
If you have tried something different and had any sort of result it would be much appreciated if you could let me know (just incase!)
Thanks
Andrea

[webblies]

Hi
i found your cry for help whilst i was looking for the exact same thing. I know some time has passed since your email and i really hope you have found something that works by now but incase you havent i have had the same problem with my cat Denzel, my vet contacted a specialist and they recommended he try dantrium instead it works differently by relaxing the muscle sphincter in the bladder rather than helping the bladder contract but so far so good with Denzel, although it is early days. It is quite difficult to give to him because it is a capsule that you need to split into 10!!!! but its worth the messing (touch wood!)
If you have tried something different and had any sort of result it would be much appreciated if you could let me know (just incase!)
Thanks
Andrea

Hi there.

I am glad you got the email, I was worried you hadn't. Thanks for the info re dentrium. Will bear that in mind. If they relax the bladder muscles, does that make Denzel leak urine ?

Well eventually I was getting so frustrated with my vets I started ringing round myself. Then I decided I needed to source a large amount because they clearly weren't going to be back on the market in a hurry. So I rang Glenwood laboratories in Kent. They had the myotonine but in 25mg tablets. So I got my vets to order 100 of then. Giz takes 10mg in the morning and 5mg at night. So I just break them up into the relevant size chunks.

If I were you I would contact Glenwood direct, check they have some and then get you vet to send a prescription, As you probably know it could be months before they are back on general release so get a lot.

Good luck and let me know how Denzel is getting on.

Gx

[andypivett]

Hi Gx
Thanks for that info ill give glenwood a try! Dantrium seems to be doing the trick for now though, the dose is small enough so that he doesnt leak urine it just makes it easier for him to go when he needs to. He actually seems to be better than when he was on myotonine, but only time will tell.
Thanks again for info hope you and Gizmo are ok
Andrea