This drug was recommended to a friend of mine as an appetite stimulate for her 18 y.o. cat who is going through a bad patch and isn’t eating on her own. I’m not familiar with this drug, but apparently it is used as a feline appetite stimulant, although not without some occasional problems. Does anyone have experience with it?
I used it with my 15 year old, renal disease kitty cat. He did perk up a bit. He also needed metamucil to get by. For me, having an appetite is one of my indicators that pets are still healthy. When he stopped wanting to eat he also started to experience other signs of decline. At 18, it may not be “a bad patch…” Good luck to your friend and her older kitty.
Yep. It can be very useful, especially when paired with something for nausea. The transdermal pen from Wedgewood is soooooo much easier than trying to cut down and orally dose the pills.
Have they tried Cyproheptadine, perhaps a bit gentler and less troublesome ( side effects) to start
No. This cat got sick very recently and recovered, except with no appetite. Mirtazapine was suggested by a friend, as the care giver is syringe feeding her as she won’t eat.
That sounds miserable 
Do they have a feeding tube? It sounds barbaric, but it really does make force feeding easier on everyone, and helps limit aversion. Hopefully they’re also treating for nausea? I’ve found a combo of cerenia AND zofran super useful.
cypro would probably have a safer profile for a kitty with organ dysfunction. Sadly they should probably follow up with blood work to make sure the RBCs are holding up and the electrolytes are in balance. Anorexia in kitties of all ages and conditions is an urgent issue
The cat was determined to have an infection which has responded well to treatment. The remaining problem is the anorexia, which is being handled currently with syringe feeding.
I used it with my barn cat when she stopped eating and drinking after “her” horse died. She responded well to the drug plus sub q fluids.
Cyproheptadine works surprisingly well and is very safe for cats. Mirtazapine is actually an old antidepressant. I’ve never used it in dogs or cats.
My older Standard Poodle had a toe amputated last Sept. due to toe cancer. Subsequent to the surgery she developed aspiration pneumonia and ulcers. She refused to eat on her own, I was feeding her A/D on a tongue depressor and syringing yougurt, etc. into her. She was on both Mirtazapine and Cerenia during the time and eventually did begin eating on her own.
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