Cats & Mirtazapine (Page 8) (Top voted first)

Our 13 year old Maine Coon mix is in the last stages of renal failure. We didn't know anything was wrong until about a month ago when she stopped eating. It's been up and down ever since her diagnosis. Our vet prescribed Mirtazapine but, after reading the many negative comments, we put off giving it to her as long as we could. We finally had to because the effects of not eating in cats are liver shutdown and death. She's had no serious adverse reaction to Mirtazapine, and it has definitely helped her appetite. It is buying her a little more quality time with us.

I certainly wouldn't use or give this drug lightly, but as some posters have noted, in the end it's a risk v.s benefit judgment call.

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Its depend on how caf reacted, my cat reacted aeting 10 min after, but then also reacted fo side effect that scare me, he drolling, faster breathing and whinning.... He finally calmed down after 5 hours but still litle bit fast breathing, and could not sleep well...i prayed he will coped of the side effect and back well again- prayers needed

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Hi, I gave my 20 year old CKD cat a 3.75mg a dose of Mirtazapine tonight (5 hours ago) and was wondering if anyone could tell me how long it took the effects to wear off in their own cat?

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Re: karen (# 149)

Did you ever get an answer for how long it takes to kick in

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Re: Mary (# 151)

We have found if you buy soft treats, you can hide the pill. There is liver wurst and tuna and we found Purina Pro plan hairball remedy soft treats work. I just gave our cat this medicine and had increased vocalization, agaitan, rapid heart beat. We will be discontinuing useage for now.

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I know what you mean, I well remember once having to give a cat a pill and I STILL have the scars!!! He DID NOT appreciate it at all.

Yes, cats metabolisms are much slower than dogs or people, so some medications tend to last a long time.

This is why people are often warned not to give them regular human medications, such as Acetaminophen, it is very, very easy to overdose your cat if you are not extremely careful.

I do wish you and Tazzi the best!

If there is any other information you need, please feel free to ask, I will gladly see if I can hunt it up for you.

Keeps us updated on how Tazzi is doing!

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Sounds like you've had some experience with animals and medical issues. If you have any suggestions to offer, we'd be happy to hear them. We know that there's no cure for her condition, but we're trying to maintain as long as she has a reasonably good quality of life.

We had to let go of two other cats due to age and illness 6 years ago, and we'd hoped not to be facing that situation again so soon. However, Tazz was a shelter girl and we don't know much about her background or even her exact age. We knew we were taking a chance, but she's a great little cat.

(If you receive this twice, I apologize. The screen disappeared and then reappeared with new verification words, and I'm not sure what happened.)

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I have an 11 year old Persian who has been taking Mirtazapine for a year now as an appetite stimulant. She has liver problems and began losing weight. I started by giving her 1/8 tablet every 3 days. The doc said if she was eating well, extend to every 4 days and then every 5 days. She gained weight at 3 days, maintained at 4 days, and started to lose again at 5 days. I have settled in to every 4th day, and she has gained a full pound. I weigh her every week, so this helps me stay on top of things. The only reaction I have seen is that within an hour of taking the pill, she starts following me around, meowing, and wants to be picked up. She starts eating quite well. She does not seem to be agitated, just clingy. My experience with this drug has been quite positive.

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Has anyone used mirtazapine long term, like for 5 years or so?

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Hi, I read your post and I would advise so strongly against this drug. I went to the vet Nov 20 th because I thought my cat was constipated. She was 12 yrs old demestic. The vet looked at her, felt her colon and confirmed that it must be constipation after her blood work came out to be normal. I also told the vet she wasn't eating or drinking much so they perscribed me the mirtazapine and sent me home with fluids. .. I digress but what I'm getting at is the first week was fine. My cat Boo seemed a little out of it ( wasn't jumping or playing as much) second week totally out of it hardly could even walk. Third week couldn't walk at all so I went back to the vet and asked WTF is going on and they suggested I stop using it. 1/4 a tab every 3 days ( twice a week) was what I was told originally. This was when I desided to do some research about this drug. Keep in mind my cat was kinda eating at first but then after the third week didn't eat at all. I asked for perscription food since my cat had no energy, total lathargic, and defiantly not eating. I continued giving her fluids and at this point syringe feeding her the high calorie perscription food. Last night my cat passed away. Sure it could have been maybe a number of other things but I can't see that within 3 wks that my cat went from constipated ( which was resulved with in a few days) to not eating, to not at all walking. I feel that all signs point to this drug. My cat wasn't large, very small, n all I wanted was for her to eat n feel better. Vets are a bunch of crocks. Serious google prob helps more to do some research. Again it's all a guessing game since our fur baby's can't tell us what's wrong but go some other natural route or defiantly a better appitite stimulate than this one. I learned the hard way. I trusted the vet knew what they were doing. They even suggested that I wait a few more days to see if she returns back to herself and drug has completely left her system. This was two days ago and now it's too late. She was breathing very hard and starred into space her last day. I can't fathom what else could have gone wrong when only a few weeks ago her blood work was normal. I don't know for sure if it was this drug n or an overdose since others have found 1/8 of the drug taken maybe once a week worked best for them. Please take in precaution!

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Bonnie , how much does your cat weight ?? . My cats weights is up and down between 6.8-7.4.. Right now she is 7.1. I. Was told 1/4 of a 15 m .. Guess that is around 3.75.. But worry that may still be too much for her . I haven't tried it yet but still having issues with her appetite. I think I'm going to ask the vet about trying cerenia first . She has been thru so so much and now is doing good except the appetite .

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@Romeo Mom, talk to your vet about possibly giving Romeo an anti-nausea drug called Cerenia. It seemed to help my Cleo feel better. Unfortunately I started her on it too late, but I could see improvements in the way she moved around that she wasn't feeling dizzy.

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Dian do Not give ur cat that huge dose ,, it is wayyyy too much and may kill him .. I'm not sure why ur vet prescribed this med , but unless my cat was near death and No other options available I would NOT give this med !! This med should not be given for nausea !!! And this med has been known to kill cats with renal / kidney issues , any reaction,, if u have already this med I'd rush my cat to the er vet asap

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Mirtazapine not expensive ? £10 for five tablets? £100 for fifteen weeks???
Can you recommend cheaper sources?

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I don't let my pets suffer. When they get to a certain point. I stop their meds and put them to sleep. I know you all love your pets but sometimes you are being selfish and asking the poor critter to suffer so you can have a little bit of comfort.

I'm sorry to be blunt, but if the pet that you love is suffering, put him/her down and let them rest.

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Can someone help .I just came from the vet they put my 14 year old Sheba on this medicine after reading all the post on here i'm a little worried about the dosage.The vet prescribed 1/2 of this mirtazapine 15 mg 2 times a day.What are the risk?

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What nonsense you are writing. I am in the US and the vet prescribed Mirtazapine for my cat at a dose of 2.5 mg every 3-4 days, much lower than your UK vet prescribes. So lay off with your insults! Your veterinarian in the UK must be an *****!

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