3850 Grand View Blvd. - Los Angeles, CA 90066 - Phone:(310) 391-6741 - Fax:(310) 391-6744 - Email: MarVistaAMC@gmail.com
(310)391-6741
www.marvistavet.com
CAPROMORELIN (for veterinary information only)
BRAND NAME: ENTYCE, ELURA
AVAILABLE AS ORAL SOLUTION
BACKGROUND The simple act of eating food and assimilating nutrients is the very basis of survival. Our bodies need nutrition for growth and healing as well as for normal activity. Unfortunately, many disease states interfere with appetite, leading to reduced nutrition and debilitation. Aside from appetite altering diseases, sometimes diet change is needed to preserve health but the diet change may not be appealing. In either situation, a sick patient is not eating and something must be done about it. Traditionally, patients in need of nutritional support have relied on hand-feeding, tube feeding, medications with that have an increased appetite side effect, and other techniques with assorted success, laboriousness, and expense.
HOW THIS MEDICATION IS USED Capromorelin is available as a vanilla flavored oral liquid for use once daily in dogs of any age or size or in cats over age 5 months. Capromorelin is meant for use throughout the course of illness (not intermittently). In other words, do not only use it on days the pet is not eating well; use it daily throughout the illness period. When the patient's appetite is at a desirable level and appetite support is no longer needed, capromorelin can be withdrawn. Some chronic disease patients may need capromorelin indefinitely while others only need it during their recovery period. The increased appetite effect of capromorelin is typically seen within an hour of use and lasts for a few hours after. It should be clear if the medication is working within a few days.
SIDE EFFECTS Side effects felt to be minor/not serious include: mild upset stomach (vomiting, diarrhea, drooling), increased thirst, gurgling sounds from the stomach. If these signs persist or seem to be more than a minor issue, contact your veterinarian.
In safety studies done for long term use at high doses (well above the normal dose) some dogs developed swollen feet as well but no side effect was deemed serious or severe enough to discourage long term use of capromorelin at usual doses. Increased blood sugar levels can be a side effect so this product is not recommended for diabetic patients.
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER DRUGS Some medications slow down the removal of capromorelin from the body (making capromorelin last longer) while other medications speed up removal of capromorelin from the body so it doesn't last as long. Medications that can prolong activity of capromorelin include: cimetidine (antacid), diltiazem (heart medication), erythromycin (antibiotic), and the antifungal medications itraconazole, ketoconazole, and fluconazole. A medication that might increase capromorelin removal from the body would be phenobarbital, a seizure treatment.
CAUTIONS AND CONCERNS The product information label that comes with the medication includes cautions for patients with liver or kidney disease for the reasons listed above. That said, capromorelin is specifically approved for weight management of cats with kidney disease with good effects seen. There is a label caution for cats with heart disease and since, blood sugar elevations can be seen with this medication, capromorelin may not be a good choice for diabetic patients.
Capromorelin has not been tested during pregnancy or lactation so is best not used in these situations.
Short version (to help us Page posted: 4/30/2019 |