Comments on: PetMeds®: Pain Relief for Cats

By: Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian

Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:59 +0000

Thanks for this wonderful information. I whole heartedly agree with you and your detailed review of narcotics in people. We have to be aware of this as well in our veterinary patients as well, where little scientific studies have been done on especially the feline species. More and more vets are using prescription buprenex in painful condition of cats along with approved nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs like metacam(as long as blood work, urine ok). Also tramadol use recently has been helpful and economic, in addition to newer uses of drugs like Gabba Pentin in cats as well. However lots of this is truly trial by error in this species as we try and develop more effective ways at managing their pain. I think this is where holistic medicine such as acpuncture can help tremendously, as well as physical therapy, when appropriate.

By: Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian

Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:56:16 +0000

Thanks for sharing this information with us. In dogs and cats, the use of opiods has been borrowed from use in human medicine and much of their use is emperical, rather than supported by clinical trials or science. More and more vets are using opioid pain meds like buprenex, as well as tramadol in cats, however we must be very careful in the feline, as they are very sensitive creatures to medications and drugs.

By: Candace Phillips

Candace Phillips — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:05:44 +0000

The opioids narcotics are effective for diseases such as chronic pain partially solved, medicines like Vicodin, Lortab, oxycodone, Lorcet are widely used in USA and Europe for medical specialists according to findrxonline the percentage of use of these drugs is very high in this part of the continent.

By: Howard

Howard — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:41:56 +0000

These points to an interesting article in findrxonline where they talk about this subject it is necessary to inform the community.
It is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to use narcotics responsibly.
A few years ago, narcotics were only prescribed after surgery, severe trauma, or for terminal cancer because of a concern over the possibility of addiction. Recently, they have been cautiously prescribed to treat moderate to severe non-malignant chronic pain in conjunction with other modalities such as physical therapy, cortisone and trigger point injections, muscle stretching, meditation, or aqua therapy. Unfortunately, the upsurge of narcotics as medical treatment also increased associated cases of abuse and addiction.
Derived from either opium (made from poppy plants) or similar synthetic compounds, narcotics not only block pain signals and reduce pain, but they affect other neurotransmitters, which can cause addiction. When taken for short periods, only minor side effects such as nausea, constipation, sedation and unclear thinking are noted.