LTCI is an American-made product and is *not* an interferon. I’m referring to feline recombinant interferon omega that has the trade name of Virbagen Omega, originally manufactured by Virbac. Glad to hear that LTCI may have helped your cat, Katherine.
Shelley: You might consider supplementing with DMG. Vetri Science makes a liquid and a chewable. The chewable also contains lysine. Ember likes the chewable, but the liquid is easy to give via eyedropper (we used that for many years). I don’t think it has any taste. Ember doesn’t seem to care. Either form is fairly cheap, and certainly less expensive per dose than even the human interferon. Amazon has both for sale. On Nov 12, 2013, at 10:51 AM, Shelley Theye <ve...@bellsouth.net> wrote: > Thanks, I'll check out the link and archives. > > Shelley > > > On Nov 12, 2013, at 11:05 AM, Katherine K. wrote: > >> No, I don't think so but honestly can't remember the difference without >> looking it all up again. Try searching the listserv archives. You can find >> out more about LTCI at http://tcyte.com/. >> >> >> On Tue, Nov 12, 2013 at 10:58 AM, Shelley Theye <ve...@bellsouth.net> wrote: >> Thanks Katherine. So LTCI is the same thing Lance is referring to as >> feline recombinant interferon omega ? >> Shelley >> >> >> On Nov 12, 2013, at 9:34 AM, Katherine K. wrote: >> >>> Hi Shelley and Jennifer, >>> >>> When my 10 yr old cat was first diagnosed in July, I found this forum to be >>> helpful in learning about LTCI: >>> http://910pets.com/forum/topics/feline-leukemia?xg_source=activity&id=2127871. >>> It's not very active now, but it's a good resource and folks will still >>> respond to you if you post there. >>> >>> My cat was running a fever, had gone from 13 lbs to 11.5, wasn't eating and >>> was lethargic when he was first diagnosed. I don't remember his RBC count >>> at the moment. We ordered LTCI for him and gave him 3 injections in the >>> first week, then went to once a week for 2 weeks, then once every 2 weeks >>> for a few weeks, and now he gets it once a month. He has returned to his >>> normal self. He was also on a low dose of prednisone for a month. I don't >>> know which medicine helped pull him out of the woods but I'm glad to keep >>> trying the LTCI if it keeps him healthy. It costs me about $50 per >>> injection though so it's not something I'm financially able to try on my 4 >>> positive kittens. >>> >>> Katherine >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Nov 12, 2013 at 8:04 AM, Shelley Theye <ve...@bellsouth.net> wrote: >>> Lance, >>> Thanks so much for explaining the difference between the 2 interferons. I >>> did not realize that there were 2 types. I had asked Leo's new vet about >>> using it as a preventative, and since she could easily get interferon, now >>> I know that it was the human one. Anyway, he is not symptomatic right >>> now, so the only thing I give him occasionally is Lysine. >>> Shelley >>> >>> Shelley Theye >>> ve...@bellsouth.net >>> >>> >>> >>> On Nov 11, 2013, at 8:50 PM, Lance wrote: >>> >>>> I think the de Mari feline recombinant interferon omega study was done >>>> with symptomatic FeLV+ cats. I think. If I already had interferon omega >>>> and Ember was symptomatic, I would definitely try it. I know very little >>>> about what is suggested with LTCI (symptomatic vs. asymptomatic for >>>> treatment). Their website should mention this. >>>> >>>> To clarify, there are two types of interferon given for FeLV+ cats: 1) >>>> interferon alpha (a product for humans that has anecdotally shown promise, >>>> but studies have failed to verify this) and 2) feline recombinant >>>> interferon omega (anecdotal evidence AND studies have shown promise). >>>> >>>> It’s easy to get #1 from pretty much any vet. They can write a >>>> prescription and have it filled by Roadrunner or another pharmacy that >>>> does drugs/compounding for pets. It’s also cheap. I think it’s ~$40 for a >>>> month and a half supply using the 5 days on/5 days off protocol. >>>> >>>> It’s somewhat difficult and expensive to get #2.Your vet has to go through >>>> an FDA program that used to be called Compassionate Use. This allows your >>>> vet clearance to import feline recombinant interferon omega, which they >>>> need, as it’s not sold in the US. There’s paperwork involved, though I >>>> don’t think it’s horrible. A dedicated, compassionate vet will do this for >>>> you. You then have to pay (through your vet) Abbeyvet In England for the >>>> drug and the overnight shipping—overnight from England. When I last priced >>>> this, it was ~$1300 for the drug and the shipping. I believe this is for >>>> something like 15 doses, but that’s all you give in a year, according to >>>> the established protocol. At least with feline recombinant interferon >>>> omega, you know you have something that has been proven to work, unlike >>>> other drugs I could mention. Will it produce results for a particular >>>> FeLV+ cat? Maybe? >>>> >>>> If Pookie is doing well, then I agree: don’t rock the boat. You might >>>> still look into what it would take to get feline recombinant interferon >>>> omega imported. Your vet might never have heard of it, and it might be >>>> useful to ask them to look into it. If you decide to do it down the road, >>>> you have that much less work to do to get it here. >>>> >>>> On Nov 11, 2013, at 6:48 PM, trustinhi...@charter.net wrote: >>>> >>>>> I took Pookie to the one of four vets in Wisconsin who has done LTCI >>>>> injections, but Pookie was sick, running a temp, and not eating when he >>>>> was seen. So he wasn't a candidate for the injection. Do the FELV+ >>>>> kitties need to be symptom free before they administer this? Also is this >>>>> the same with the interferon shots? And does anyone know who administers >>>>> interferon in Wisconsin? My inclination is if it isn't broken don't fix >>>>> it...If Pookie is doing well, I don't want to mess with him. And he is >>>>> doing great now since he had acupuncture. Seems so hit or miss with all >>>>> this?? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 4:08 PM, Jennifer Lewis wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Has anyone tried any other the other meds out there, like Lymphocyte >>>>>> T-Cell Immunomodulator (LTCI)? >>>>>> >>>>>> Jennifer L, Munchkin and Brynn >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Nov 11, 2013, at 12:54 PM, MaryChristine wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> http://goo.gl/uT6Evb >>>>>>> >>>>>>> not new to most of us, but always good to see things get the "official" >>>>>>> recognition. tho it does end as most research articles do, "more >>>>>>> research is needed." >>>>>>> >>>>>>> MC >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Spay & Neuter Your Neighbors! >>>>>>> Maybe That'll Make The Difference.... >>>>>>> MaryChristine >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>>>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>>>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Felvtalk mailing list >>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Felvtalk mailing list >>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Felvtalk mailing list >> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Felvtalk mailing list >> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
