My cat is constipated while on mirtazapine. Can I give her cisapride?

From Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook "For chronic Constipation (e.g. megacolon): In combination with a stool softener (author recommends lactulose at a starting dose of 2-3 mL PO three times per day; then adjust as needed) and a bulk agent (e.g. psyllium or pumpkin pie filling) cisapride is given initially at 2.5mg (for cats up to 10 lbs) or 5mg (for cats 11 pounds or heavier) three times daily, 30 minutes before food. Cats weighing greater than 16 pounds may require 7.5mg" So in short, Merlin may require a 5-7.5mg dose three times per day. Before changing the dose, I would talk to the prescribing veterinarian about Merlin. I would discuss whether or not he needs a stool softener and whether he needs to be on canned pumpkin daily. Depending on how regulated he is or how constipated he is, he may need different things. If he hasn't had a bowel movement for awhile, he will likely need an enema. I have also found that cats with megacolon respond REALLY well to the prescription diet Royal Canin GI fiber response. Talk to your vet as they can likely order it for you or write a written prescription for you. I hope this helps!

Ranitidine and Erythromycin have known intestinal prokinetic effects and will help with increasing gut motility. I prefer Cisapride over all other prokinetic drugs but these other 2 are a good source in the absence of Cisapride. I would discuss this with your veterinarian to decide which is the best option for your cat. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available for consultation if needed.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Galaxy! I recommend cisapride, lactulose and Royal canine fiber response for constipated cats. Sometimes with the prescription diet it eliminates the need for most medications. If she isn't eating I would have her seen today and deobstipated (sedate and remove all feces) before the weekend. Then get the cisaride and food started. Sometimes refractory cases need partial removal of their colons. I wish you the best!

This drug can be a little tricky when giving it. Your pets complete medical history should be known before starting this laxative, due to possible complications that can ensue. Because of this, I would not continue its use without consulting with Dewey's primary care veterinarian. It is used in veterinary medicine, but it has certain requirements and cautions with use. Also it should always be dissolved and not given in powder form. As a side, Prednisolone does not have constipation as one of the possible side effects to using this medication. If she is constipated, then there is likely another underlying cause. Best of luck moving forward with your pet Dewey. Take care.

Hello, and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. For now, I wouldn't stress about knowing exactly which medication has helped Kiki - in truth, it's probably been a combination of all the different interventions. Cats who are prone to constipation often need constant adjustments in their management, so for now, if she's doing well, continue the miralax as your vet advised and touch base with them if her stools become hard or less frequent again. Sometimes cats may need to be on both meds for a time, or even switch foods entirely to a diet formulated for cats with constipation issues. So, there's probably not one "right" medication for her, and a therapy that worked this time might still need to be adjusted in the future. I have found the Royal Canin GI Fiber Response food to help immensely - you could ask your vet if that's an appropriate option if Kiki continues having bouts of constipation. Hope this helps!

Mirtazipine can cause serotonin syndrome which is characterized by hyperactivity, muscle tremors, vocalization and behavior changes. This is more likely at high doses but has been reported to occur at typical doses as well. It is cleared through the kidneys so a dose reduction is typically recommended for cats with decreased kidney function. Megacolon should not be a concern.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Jasmine. Poor girl! It could be she has a GI illness causing the vomiting and diarrhea. Likely she has had some loose stools, and it's normal to see a cat act like they are trying to poop but have nothing come out. It's not constipation, it's just she still has the urge to go but nothing comes out. It happens in humans as well who have diarrhea. Unfortunately I cannot recommend giving Pepcid or Miralax without seeing her in person, it's illegal. I can give you a home remedy to see if that helps. Feed her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If she vomits the bland diet, the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away. Best of luck.