Gabapentin and Kidney Disease. It’s essential to exercise caution when using gabapentin in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Higher doses can lead to excessive sedation and hypotension in these patients. A dose decrease of at least 50% is often used in these cases. It’s imperative to consult with your veterinarian if your cat has CKD. The question of whether gabapentin is safe for cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is complex and requires careful consideration. The short answer is: it can be safe when used judiciously, but it’s not without risks and requires dosage adjustments due to the kidneys’ role in its elimination. Gabapentin is eliminated almost entirely through renal excretion, and decreased renal function significantly influences the pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in humans. 14 While doses of gabapentin in the range of 50–150 mg/cat have been used in normal cats, 4,5,11 it should be noted that higher doses may be unsuitable for cats with CKD. 15 In a Investigating appropriate dosing for gabapentin sedation in cats with and without chronic kidney disease (2017) Winn Feline Foundation reports on the study's goals and Gabapentin sedation in cats with and without chronic kidney disease (2020) Winn Feline Foundation gives an update, stating that CKD cats seem to have much higher levels of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gabapentin and Cats’ Kidneys. 1. Can gabapentin cause kidney failure in cats? 2. If my cat has kidney disease, should I avoid gabapentin completely? 3. What are the signs of kidney problems in cats? 4. What medications can cause kidney problems in cats? 5. Can cats stay on gabapentin long-term? 6. The 20 mg/kg stress-reduction dose of gabapentin may be beneficial to facilitate preventive veterinary care in younger, healthy cats, but this dose may be inappropriate for elderly cats, specifically those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Compliance scores for cats with CKD were significantly increased at 3h versus 8h. Cats with higher serum gabapentin concentrations were more compliant at the 3h mark. No CKD cats were considered to be overly sedated at the 10mg/kg dose. One limitation of this study was that all of the healthy cats were fairly young compared to the CKD cats so Despite gabapentin’s use, Dr. Quimby’s previous research has shown that cats with kidney disease may end up with unnecessarily high levels of gabapentin in their system, because commonly used Cats with CKD may need a reduced gabapentin dose to avoid excessive sedation. Cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may experience a build-up of waste products and other compounds in their bloodstream, which healthy kidneys would usually remove or regulate. management, even in older cats with chronic renal failure.15 • Twenty-two cats with chronic renal failure (median age, 15.5 years) received meloxicam for a median treatment duration of 467 days, with titration to the lowest effective dose. • The results suggested that a long-term daily dose of 0.02 mg/kg can be safely administered Conclusions and relevance Cats with CKD that received 10 mg/kg of gabapentin had significantly higher dose-normalized serum concentrations than normal cats that received 20 mg/kg, supporting the need to dose-reduce in this patient population. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess serum concentrations of gabapentin in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) vs clinically healthy cats. Methods: Five healthy cats were enrolled in a pharmacokinetic study. A single 20 mg/kg dose of gabapentin was administered orally and blood was obtained at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 8 The question of whether gabapentin is harmful to a cat’s kidneys is a valid concern for pet owners, especially those whose feline companions are already dealing with kidney issues. The simple answer is: gabapentin is generally not considered to directly damage the kidneys. The prevalence and classification of chronic kidney disease in a randomly selected group of cats and in cats with degenerative joint disease. J Feline Med Surg 2014; 16(6):465-472. Lascelles BDX, Thomson Sumrell A, Henry III JB, et al. Cross-sectional study evaluating the prevalence of radiographic degenerative joint disease in domesticated cats. In cats, gabapentin is most often used as a pain medication for chronic pain, such as from arthritis. Gabapentin is also recognized as beneficial in reducing the fear responses that a kitty may have to the stress of handling and being examined at the vet. Gabapentin may decrease arterial BP in cats with and without CKD and these findings should be taken into account when gabapentin is administered to patients in which measurement of BP is needed. Keywords: Anxiety, stress, renal failure, half-life, situational hypertension. Gabapentin is usually used to manage chronic pain, especially nerve-related pain. It is also used (primarily in cats) to relieve anxiety associated with veterinary procedures, travel, and other fear-generating situations. Gabapentin can also be used as an additional medication in seizure management. Study demonstrates that companion cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) will exhibit compliance during veterinary visits on a lower dosage of gabapentin. The question of whether gabapentin is harmful for cats with kidney disease is complex and doesn’t have a simple yes or no answer. While gabapentin isn’t inherently nephrotoxic (toxic to kidneys), its use in cats with pre-existing kidney issues requires careful consideration and monitoring. In conclusion, gabapentin has emerged as a promising treatment option for cats with kidney disease, offering pain relief and improved quality of life for feline patients. With personalized dosing, multi-modal therapy, and client education, veterinarians can effectively incorporate gabapentin into comprehensive treatment plans for cats with
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