Re: Pergolide
This message is from: Jane Brackett Thank you all for your responses. Geilo has been on the compounded pergolide for 2 1/2 years, started at 1 mg and was increased to 1 1/2 after the first 6 months. He has a very long hair coat which sheds out somewhat in the summer though not what it should (still about 2 inches long now), he's also quite thin and has lost muscle, especially his top line, though still has a good appetite. When he was originally diagnosed he was also drinking, sweating and urinating excessively which has all resolved and his coat does shed out more now than it did. He is also happier and not so grumpy, so i truly think he feels better. I thought he was doing well, so I was surprised that his ATCH was so high. I'm wondering that, if the compounded isn't consistent, then perhaps the capsule of pergolide was a low dosage one on the day that he had his blood drawn? Does the ATCH level vary that quickly? Thankfully he hasn't had laminitis, but I do worry about keeping his weight up without adding starches. The Prescend is more expensive than the compounded but if it works better that's fine. I guess it's just wait and see. Hard to develop trust in a new vet sometimes. Thanks all, Jane Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Pergolide
This message is from: I had a Morgan on pergolide for years, combatting Cushings. He was on 1mg compounded by Pet health Pharmacy for years (like 10years). He did well. Last summer, when he was 28, he began to decline and the new vet here (we moved from CT to VA) thought the amount was too low, after checking for infections etc etc. So he did put him on 3mg of Prascend ( 1 1/2mg 2x/day), and he had an amazing rebound. After 2 months of the very expensive Prascend, I went back to PetHealth compounded pergolide, at the higher dosage. He was fine. He stayed fine on the higher dosage compounded until this spring, when we lost him to unrelated torsion colic. Your horse's ACTH is quite high. The symptoms my horse showed was a disinterest in eating. Though he stayed perky, he got thinner and thinner. And of course weaker. After the increased dosage and changing him to sweet feed (we were desperate; he was on the euthanization schedule), he perked up within days and started eating. Then we slowly reintroduced him to his beet pulp based feed. It was quite a roller coaster. Good luck. Valerie The #1 Worst Carb Ever? Click to Learn #1 Carb that Kills Your Blood Sugar (Don't Eat This!) http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/53a6cbcc555754bcc029dst04vuc Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Prascend vs. Compounded pergolide
This message is from: Robin Churchill My 19 year old warmblood is on Prascend. He was initially started on 1 mg and he shed out his long coat very soon after it was started. He is a big horse and is now on 2 mg and is doing well. He has a history of chronic laminitis and his feet are the best they have been for several years. The Prascend is pretty expensive. The cheapest legitimate place to get it I could find was Valley Vet and to buy the larger pack which is 160 tablets. If I remember correctly, my vet said the liquid pergolide is very unreliable in terms of the amount of bioavailable drug. I think there are other forms of generic pergolide available but since my horse was doing well on this, I decided to stick with it. I know the starting dose for Prascend is 1 mg and I would assume that the bioavailable drug would be more consistent than the compounded formulations. I hope that helps. Robin On Saturday, June 21, 2014 7:19 PM, Jane Brackett wrote: This message is from: Jane Brackett Cushings question. Geilo, our 21 yr old Fjord has had cushings for a few years. We've used a locally compounded pergolide, however his last blood test showed the highest ATCH levels yet (437). We have a new vet since our old one has retired and she suggested we switch to Prascend since she felt the compounded was inconsistent. Geilo has been on 1.5 mg but she also lowered his dosage to 1 mg of the prascend and wants to recheck his levels in a couple of months. Have others switched and found the prascend to be more effective at lower doses? Thanks Jane Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Prascend vs. Compounded pergolide
This message is from: Jane Brackett Cushings question. Geilo, our 21 yr old Fjord has had cushings for a few years. We've used a locally compounded pergolide, however his last blood test showed the highest ATCH levels yet (437). We have a new vet since our old one has retired and she suggested we switch to Prascend since she felt the compounded was inconsistent. Geilo has been on 1.5 mg but she also lowered his dosage to 1 mg of the prascend and wants to recheck his levels in a couple of months. Have others switched and found the prascend to be more effective at lower doses? Thanks Jane Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
RE: pergolide and side affects
This message is from: Gail Russell Our vet told us that the compounded Pergolide was often lacking in the amount of active ingredient in it. She says that the new, approved Pergolide has a calibrated amount of the active ingredient, and she finds it is much easier to calibrate the dosages, and she gets much better results. I know the lack of appetite is one of the side effects, and that there are supplements that often help with the side effects. There was also an issue with the liquid Pergolide degrading and not having enough of the active ingredient. In 2 yrs. she aged, and her last 6 months, the infections, tummy, teeth, eye, then several issues with her feet. Very very sad. It does seem to me in the 2 yrs. she was on it, she never improved and over time had more issues. But I feared taking her off the meds as what would she be like if while on the pergolide, she was going downhill? And yes, had her blood tested about 4 times during these 2 yrs., and seems it was always high Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
pergolide and side affects
This message is from: "Debby" What would the side affects be? I do remember starting Amber on it and started lower dosage, and did seem for a few days to make her go off her feed...but what other side affects. I don't recall my vet mentioning any. I know that once a horse is too far into the disease, I was told the pergolide would not bring them back to normal, and I was told putting them on it as soon as one suspected and tested their cortisol level, would or should help them, not fix them as it is not fixable, but help them, even suppose to help them start shedding, though it never did my Amber. When her coat changed, and she on the med for 2 yrs., I had to clip her all year round, she never shed. And her coat was never the same anymore. In 2 yrs. she aged, and her last 6 months, the infections, tummy, teeth, eye, then several issues with her feet. Very very sad. It does seem to me in the 2 yrs. she was on it, she never improved and over time had more issues. But I feared taking her off the meds as what would she be like if while on the pergolide, she was going downhill? And yes, had her blood tested about 4 times during these 2 yrs., and seems it was always high. I'd assume this "disease" affects them in many different ways, when and what and how, but in the end, it won't go away. I know that giving them shots, vaccinations, steroids, all can be issues. Stress is an issue. Debby Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
RE: approved Pergolide
This message is from: Debbie LeBreton Hi Debby: Please talk to Riva's Remedies up in BC, Canada before you give up. I have had great luck on everything that she has help me with. I run into a horse that lost all her hair and the owner just let her suffer and Maraika(horseremedies or Riva's Remedes) asked me to send her a picture of the poor mare that the people had just let the horse go without hair, well after two weeks of stuff that she recommended for the mare she is just great. If you would like before and after pictures. I would be happy to send them to any one that would like to see them. Debbie > From: debby.s...@earthlink.net > To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com > Subject: approved Pergolide > Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2012 06:39:17 -0500 > > This message is from: "Debby" > > > I'd visited by phone with the drug company and one of their vet drs. about > my Amber, and about the approved Pergolide. The compound company we, my > vet, had been getting the compounded version was not selling it anymore. We > had to use the approved one, which was fine with me. We started Amber on it > and after a week or so, I didn't see any improvements, had hoped to at least > see some shedding, it was that time of the year, back in early early spring > when they all are and we think it too soon. > So I called the company, talked to the doctor, about my Amber. I was told > the approved pergolide would be constant, much research had been done and > was still ongoing. > When I visited with him about all of Ambers ailments, it was clear that she > would not be fixed, she had too many issues. He mentioned to me getting > them on this pergolide as soon as symptoms show themselves, even before. > I'd suspect that means one needs to watch closely, any changes, simple blood > test. Especially I'd think ones that are IR. > For me it just seemed one day Amber was fine and the next day she wasn't. > I'm sure it all started with the noticing of the coat not shedding when the > others started. But the compound med did nothing for her coat, it kept > changing in texture, huge difference after her having this for a few years, > was not a horses coat at all. But there were other signs that maybe I'd > not noticed, the filling in above the eyes. The muscle loss, but that > happened gradual and got worse over time. Her last 6 months she'd become > "old". > > I'd suggest anyone have any concerns, any questions, look up this approved > pergolide, call them,very nice people, wealth of information. My own vet > here struggled with much knowledge, most around here did nothing for theirs > and did the "let nature take its course" kind of thing. I always want more > time. I'd rather have been able to fix her but as mom use to say "wishful > thinking". > take care of your ponies. > Debby > > Important FjordHorse List Links: > Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e > FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw > FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
approved Pergolide
This message is from: "Debby" I'd visited by phone with the drug company and one of their vet drs. about my Amber, and about the approved Pergolide. The compound company we, my vet, had been getting the compounded version was not selling it anymore. We had to use the approved one, which was fine with me. We started Amber on it and after a week or so, I didn't see any improvements, had hoped to at least see some shedding, it was that time of the year, back in early early spring when they all are and we think it too soon. So I called the company, talked to the doctor, about my Amber. I was told the approved pergolide would be constant, much research had been done and was still ongoing. When I visited with him about all of Ambers ailments, it was clear that she would not be fixed, she had too many issues. He mentioned to me getting them on this pergolide as soon as symptoms show themselves, even before. I'd suspect that means one needs to watch closely, any changes, simple blood test. Especially I'd think ones that are IR. For me it just seemed one day Amber was fine and the next day she wasn't. I'm sure it all started with the noticing of the coat not shedding when the others started. But the compound med did nothing for her coat, it kept changing in texture, huge difference after her having this for a few years, was not a horses coat at all. But there were other signs that maybe I'd not noticed, the filling in above the eyes. The muscle loss, but that happened gradual and got worse over time. Her last 6 months she'd become "old". I'd suggest anyone have any concerns, any questions, look up this approved pergolide, call them,very nice people, wealth of information. My own vet here struggled with much knowledge, most around here did nothing for theirs and did the "let nature take its course" kind of thing. I always want more time. I'd rather have been able to fix her but as mom use to say "wishful thinking". take care of your ponies. Debby Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
RE: pergolide for Cushings
This message is from: "Jim Barnhart" For some reason I didn't see your original e-mail. The text only has 'IB' in it, everything else is blank. But I gather you are having a hard time getting your Cushings horse to take it's pill? We have Ranec, a 23 yr old fjord who was diagnosed with Cushings about 3 years ago. He's been on peroglide the whole time. We started with the pill and had a terrible time. We tried applesauce, crushing it, molasses, beer (we had a gypsy horse that liked his bute in beer before we had to put him down). Nothing worked short of a pill pusher. We would push the pill into the back of his throat and he'd swallow it. He hated it. About 2 years ago we switched to Pergolide Mesylate 1 mg/5cc scoop Granules 100 Scoop Alfalfa. We get this from Wedgewood pharmacy (on-line at http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/). We put his scoop each day into some safechoice grain and he gobbles it up. We need to give him grain to keep his weight up. Since then we've had no issues. We just did his yearly tests a couple months ago. He is the picture of health. His weight is good, his coat shed very well this spring. We ride him but watch the hot weather and make sure he doesn't overheat. He's never had any hoof/laminitis issues. I also got on the Yahoo! Website, but was quickly overwhelmed there and decided to just trust my vet and make sure we are testing regularly. If you have any more questions, feel free to send me a personal e-mail. I'll help in any way I can. Jim Barnhart (jb...@sleepyeyetel.net) -Original Message- From: owner-fjordho...@angus.mystery.com [mailto:owner-fjordho...@angus.mystery.com] On Behalf Of ruth bushnell Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 6:13 PM To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Subject: Re: pergolide for Cushings This message is from: "ruth bushnell" > This message is from: "Debby" > > >... she is just getting worse and worse > about it (taking her pill) Debby Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
thyro-l and pergolide
This message is from: "Elizabeth German" I agree with what Beth Beymer said about thyro-l. It's worked wonders on my hypo-thyroid horse, with ouchyness and weight. He's not on pergolide. I also agree with her suggestion of trying the thyro-l separately for a while before adding the pergolide. I have two horses (Hanoverian age 24 and Appy age 26 ) with cushings, they've both been on pergolide for a couple of years with no ill effects. Prior to the pergolide I couldn't keep weight ON them, no matter how much I fed and neither shed their winter coats. The thyro-L helped keep weight down & the pergolide helped keep it up. Beth G Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Pergolide
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Actually, Pergolide is going off the market for humans because of heart valve problems. It remains to be seen if the manufacturers think there is enough veterinary interest in the drug for them to keep making it. Dr Kellon, the vet who writes for John Lyon's Perfect Horse and other Equine magazines, has been keeping the Cushing's list informed and this is what she says: > I am a veterinarian and co-owner of the over 5000 member Yahoo Equine > Cushing's group. As you know, at the FDA's urging pergolide mesylate > has been removed from the human market. The three US suppliers of > pergolide tablets are no longer producing the drug. What you may not > realize is that bulk sales of pergolide to compounders are largely > going to the veterinary market. > > Pergolide is the only effective pharmacological therapy for horses with > Cushing's Disease, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. I believe > that drug wholesalers are unaware of the size of the veterinary market. > It is critically important to keep pergolide available for veterinary > use. The FDA action does not impact off-label use in horses. > > A web petition has been put up to collect signatures and comments > regarding the use of pergolide in horses: > > http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savepergolide/index.html > > The petition was put up noon on April 6. Despite the holiday weekend, > there are already 14 pages of signatures, reflecting the needs of > thousands of horses. This is only the tip of the iceberg. There are > currently 10 to 12 million horses in the United States, of which > approximately 10% are age 20 or older. It has been estimated that > virtually any equine that lives long enough will develop the > degenerative changes of dopaminergic neurons that leads to pituitary > dysfunction and Cushing's disease. This disease may begin much earlier > in some horses, in their teens. Pergolide is needed by these animals > for the remainder of their life. > > We urge you to continue to stock pergolide mesylate. There is a market. > Owners that had been relying on Permax or generic human tablets are > already encountering shortages. There is an urgent need to keep an > uninterrupted flow of pergolide mesylate to compounders. > > Eleanor M. Kellon, V.M.D. > Equine Nutritional Solutions > 58 Maple Farm Road > Ephrata, PA 17522 > Co-Owner, Yahoo Equine Cushings > http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/ The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Pergolide
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I just got off the phone with my vet. The liquid Pergolide is being taken off the market, not the caplets or powder. The liquid was unstable. Pamela _Northern Holiday Horses_ (http://hometown.aol.com/northhorse/index.html) _Welcome Polaris 2_ (http://hometown.aol.com/sowestern/myhomepage/index.html) ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
No more Pergolide
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is a cross posting form the Cushings group. My Morgan gelding would be dead today without this drug. What are we going to do? Valerie and Jazzman -- Forwarded message -- From: Eleanor Kellon, VMD <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Apr 6, 2007 11:45 AM Subject: - Pergolide off the market Pergolide, the most effective treatment for horses with Cushing's and the only thing that helps many of them has been taken off the market. For details drop in on the Cushing's group. If you have or had a horse with Cushing's, or know someone who does, please go to this site and sign the petition for drug manufacturers to keep producing the drug for equine use: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savepergolide/index.html Please also cross post this to all equine groups you are on. Thank you. Dr. Kellon The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
