Question about gabapentin

[Shay]

That's a low dose -- generally the recommendation is trial for two weeks, and if the dog starts to have symptoms within the time of a dose, to increase the dose or frequency (in your case I'd quess the frequency before the dose).

I'd split capsules rather than compound -- that's what I did when Leo was on your dose. Leo is now on 150mg 3x so I get the 600mg tablets (as in this size you can avoid the capsules) and use a pill cutter to split in 4. The shape wouldn't suit cutting into 12 pieces though.

My Vet has called around for me and found a compounding pharmacy who will compound it in capsules for almost half the price of the one I got it from last week . That is a huge difference, and I can't believe the one pharmacy has charged me almost double. My little rescue is on two heart medications for the rest of his life, so I have a large pharmacy bill every month. I am thankful that there are medications that give them both a better quality of life, and they are happy and healthy otherwise. No sign of SM in my 6 year old rescue, maybe he missed the curve based on his age, who knows??? He was heart clear at 4 when I got him, and now he has MVD. Just wish my pet insurance paid for medication .

[antigone]

Before surgery Levi was on Neurontin. I the first time I bought it at Wal-Mart, it was liquid, and it was $37. However, before I gave it to Levi, my vet caught the fact that it had Xylitol/Malitol (I think) which is deadly to dogs. I hadn't opened it but Wal-Mart wouldn't take it back or refund the money. I do understand why but I still didn't like that.

The next time I bought it was from a compounding pharmacy, it was liquid, and it was $143 for a month's supply.

At LIVS after surgery Levi was started on neurontin capsules which they sent home with us. If I need to continue him on them after the amount they sent home is gone (They don't seem to think he will need it, though. I am keeping my fingers crossed.), I will probably buy them from a good internet pharmacy. He is given 100 mg three times a day. The Drs Foster and Smith internet pharmacy (which is a real veterinary pharmacy, not some internet fake pharmacy) sells the capsules for $.49 each or $44.10 for 90 capsules. They have free shipping in the US. I don't know about the policy for shipping outside the US. There might well be other internet pharmacies which sell to outside the US and might be even lower. I bought Levi's Tramadol for $.30 per 50 mg tablet and the dose is 1/2 tablet three times a day. That would come to $13.50 for a month. They do require a veterinarian's Rx but will fax your vet for you and can sell medicines directly to you if your vet faxes a Rx back to them. Just FYI.

Kathy

[Karlin]

I'm not in the US, but I believe Costco is supposed to be particularly good for gabapentin. It is cheaper to get generic gabapentin than neurontin (brand).

The issue of xylitol has come up before here for liquid neurontin. If I recall it isn't actually an issue as the amount is so tiny but I am not positive about this so don;t rely on that as an OK. Maybe LIVS knows.

I wish I could get cheaply compounded neurontin as I get the 600mg and split four ways, a bit of a pain. My chemists gave me a pill cutter for free for Leo! On the other hand I am sure I have put their child through college now with my expenditure on neurontin.

[Karlin]

Ok I googled and found this which looks reliable. This is from a vet site:

Gabapentin oral suspension is sweetened with xylitol which has toxic properties in the dog. The doses used to control pain should not contain enough xylitol to be problematic but anti-seizure doses might. The issue can be avoided by having liquid formulations compounded rather than using the commercially available oral liquid.

full info: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1&SourceID=52

I am glad to see this drug is now listed with info for giving it to animals.

[Holly]

Hi Shay-- I read on one of the lists that CVS has Gabapentin on it's $10/3 month supply list but you have to enroll in their prescription program. You may want to look into that. Good to "see" you again-- I'm sorry that you are dealing with this!