Atopica (allergy med) - Dog Forum

chacha · 02-26-2006, 02:51 PM

I just started my Lab Fred on Atopica for his allergies. It is a anti rejection drug used for transplant patients, humans of course. It is supossed to be a miricle drug for dogs with Atopic Dermatits. It is expensive,little to no side effects. Fred has been on steroids for 5 years and he is showing signs of chronic steroid use. We had to do something. We should know within 2-4 weeks if its going to work. My vet has had a 90% success rate with this drug. Fred is on day 4 with his pills. Does anyone out there know about this drug and has some experience with it? Or is there anyone who wants more info for there dogs?

crestie_rsq · 02-26-2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chacha

I just started my Lab Fred on Atopica for his allergies. It is a anti rejection drug used for transplant patients, humans of course. It is supossed to be a miricle drug for dogs with Atopic Dermatits. It is expensive,little to no side effects. Fred has been on steroids for 5 years and he is showing signs of chronic steroid use. We had to do something. We should know within 2-4 weeks if its going to work. My vet has had a 90% success rate with this drug. Fred is on day 4 with his pills. Does anyone out there know about this drug and has some experience with it? Or is there anyone who wants more info for there dogs?

Interesting, I don't have allergic dogs, but my sis has a horribly allergic Golden Retriever so I've passed this info on to her.

I just googled it and found quite a few hits: Here's one:
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_cyclosporine.html

chacha · 02-26-2006, 04:11 PM

Thanks for the info. Your sis can also go on the Atopica website. www.us.atopica.com. The dose is given based on the weight of the dog. Fred weighs 115. So the first month cost us $432.00. If it works then he will drop down to every other day and it will cost us $225.00 next month. By the 3rd month he should be down to every 3,5 or 7 days. Depends on his body. The cost will drop again. I feel its worth the try. The steroids he is on is working but they are killing him too.

Patch O' Pits · 03-02-2006, 01:02 PM

Be very careful; when they tell you a drug has 'NO' side effects... How long has it been around? Are there any studies on it's long term effects?

Has your dog had allergy testing done? Have you tried the allergy shots with him?

If so what is he allergic too. Have you consulted a holistic vet? That is also something I would suggest if you haven't

What food do you feed and what suppliments does he take

Good luck with your dog... I hope it works for him

chacha · 03-02-2006, 05:42 PM

The drug has been around a long time for humans for a anti-rejection drug. As far as I know its been used for dogs for several years 5+. There are some side effects nausea,vomitting,diarrhea,and papilomas on the gums. Studies have shown they are short term and go away with continued treatment. So far Fred has had none. I did get Fred tested for allergies 4.5 years ago. He is allergic to Dust,mold,maple,aspen,corn pollen and ragweed. We did try allergy infections for 1.5 years it didn't work. I have tried combinations of antihistimines,shots and steroids. We have tried many combos to keep the steroids down to a minumum. Nothing has worked. I have been trying for 5 years. I did try a Holistic approch and we had to get him of the steroids in order to do this. But Freds body can't handle the allergens so he broke out into a flow blown whole body skin infection. They holistic vet admitted it was not going to work. So he had to go back on steroids. Fred is eating Solid Gold food. Trust me I have done everything. If there are long term effects with this med it is still better then the Steroids. If this med doesn't work we have to put him down. He hasn't suffered over the years I have made sure of it. But the steroids are catching up with him and he is showing signs of side effects from them.All of his lab work is still normal. Liver and Kidneys are functioning.But his skin is starting to thin and change pigment. And his dose needs to increase because of the itching and I am not willing to do that anymore. I have spent thousands of dollars to save this dog. But he has just been given a bumb deal when it comes to his health. I really hope it works for him too. Thanks.

Patch O' Pits · 03-02-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chacha

The drug has been around a long time for humans for a anti-rejection drug. As far as I know its been used for dogs for several years 5+. There are some side effects nausea,vomitting,diarrhea,and papilomas on the gums. Studies have shown they are short term and go away with continued treatment. So far Fred has had none. I did get Fred tested for allergies 4.5 years ago. He is allergic to Dust,mold,maple,aspen,corn pollen and ragweed. We did try allergy infections for 1.5 years it didn't work. I have tried combinations of antihistimines,shots and steroids. We have tried many combos to keep the steroids down to a minumum. Nothing has worked. I have been trying for 5 years. I did try a Holistic approch and we had to get him of the steroids in order to do this. But Freds body can't handle the allergens so he broke out into a flow blown whole body skin infection. They holistic vet admitted it was not going to work. So he had to go back on steroids. Fred is eating Solid Gold food. Trust me I have done everything. If there are long term effects with this med it is still better then the Steroids. If this med doesn't work we have to put him down. He hasn't suffered over the years I have made sure of it. But the steroids are catching up with him and he is showing signs of side effects from them.All of his lab work is still normal. Liver and Kidneys are functioning.But his skin is starting to thin and change pigment. And his dose needs to increase because of the itching and I am not willing to do that anymore. I have spent thousands of dollars to save this dog. But he has just been given a bumb deal when it comes to his health. I really hope it works for him too. Thanks.

Kudos for hanging in there for this poor dog! I can tell how much he is loved! I really hope this is the answer. I was just trying to help by giving you other options... but it seems you ave exhausted everything.

Keep us posted on how he does.

Prayers that this is the cure

chacha · 03-02-2006, 11:00 PM

So far he is doing good. It looks promising. I have been able to reduce is steroids in half after a week. If I can get him completely off it will be a miracle. Thanks

Jynx · 03-05-2006, 12:30 AM

I have had one of my GSD's on Atopica. It DOES have side effects that can be serious.

Atopica is known also as cyclosporine. It is used in organ transplant patients to help stop rejection. It's an immunosuppressant. What the atopica is doing is, shutting down your dog's immune system. No immune system, no allergies.
However, your dog can pick up other things with a compromised immune system. One of the side effects, tho not serious is major hair loss..My GSD' lost alot of coat but when he went off it, his coat came back thicker than ever. Also a side effect can be kidney/liver failure. When on Atopica, you should ask your vet about "trough" testing, It's a test to determine IF the amounts of atopica in his system are "correct", if you are to low or to high, there is no sense in sending money down the drain. You should also do liver/kidney function testing to make sure the med is not affecting those functions.

My GSD was on it for 3 months for perianal fistula's. It worked, and he's been in remission for a little over a year. I also do not vaccinate him anymore, and have to be doubly careful of where he goes as he now has a compromised immune system.

Allergies, can be from so many things it's hard to straighen out when you can't get a definitive diagnosis. Atopica can certainly be a life saver, but it most likely is not a "cure". It will shut down the immune system and put the dog into remission. How long? who knows , each dog's system is different.

Long term use is not recommended, but as you say, the steroids long term can also wreck havoc on a dog's system as well.

Good luck, I hope it works for you like it worked for my dog.
Diane

Jynx · 03-05-2006, 12:35 AM

just wanted to add,,I saw your post say side effects can include diarhea, vomiting but will go away..Don't count on that. IF your dog is lethargic (which you might see in the beginning), has diarhea, vomiting, and is not acting right, if it didn't clear up in a couple days I would immediately discontinue use, prolonging using a drug this powerful with those side effects that aren't going away, is basically putting poison in your dog. Some dogs can not tolerate ATopica.

Also, it's advised (I don't know if your vet told you) to give the pill the same time each day, either 2 hours BEFORE or 2 hours AFTER a meal.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask away..I got pretty "drug " savvy when I went with atopica for my dog
Diane

chacha · 03-06-2006, 02:58 AM

Thanks for the info Jynx. Fred has only been on it for 11 days. It is a drug and I know it has side effects but they aren't as bad as most drugs. So far Fred has not had any side effects. I really don't know if its even going to work for him. If it does work I don't know how long he will be on it. Like I said before this is his last chance. We have tried everything else. I can't worry about the long term right now,we have to worry about today. Just to keep him comfortable on a daily basis is all I worry about.

I didn't know about the hair loss and a side effect. That is not mentioned on the website,drug info insert or by my vet.

With everything that I have read about this drug the percentage of these side effects are small. The drugs side effects are lesser on dogs than they are in humans. Besides that they are serious and I do have to keep a eye on them. Fred does get liver and kidney functions tests because of his steroid use so we are used to that.

I am glad your dog was helped by this drug. I sure hope it works for mine.

02-26-2006, 02:51 PM	#1
chacha Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Elk River, Minnesota Posts: 27	Atopica (allergy med) I just started my Lab Fred on Atopica for his allergies. It is a anti rejection drug used for transplant patients, humans of course. It is supossed to be a miricle drug for dogs with Atopic Dermatits. It is expensive,little to no side effects. Fred has been on steroids for 5 years and he is showing signs of chronic steroid use. We had to do something. We should know within 2-4 weeks if its going to work. My vet has had a 90% success rate with this drug. Fred is on day 4 with his pills. Does anyone out there know about this drug and has some experience with it? Or is there anyone who wants more info for there dogs?

03-05-2006, 12:30 AM	#8
Jynx Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Old Lyme, CT Posts: 32	atopica I have had one of my GSD's on Atopica. It DOES have side effects that can be serious. Atopica is known also as cyclosporine. It is used in organ transplant patients to help stop rejection. It's an immunosuppressant. What the atopica is doing is, shutting down your dog's immune system. No immune system, no allergies. However, your dog can pick up other things with a compromised immune system. One of the side effects, tho not serious is major hair loss..My GSD' lost alot of coat but when he went off it, his coat came back thicker than ever. Also a side effect can be kidney/liver failure. When on Atopica, you should ask your vet about "trough" testing, It's a test to determine IF the amounts of atopica in his system are "correct", if you are to low or to high, there is no sense in sending money down the drain. You should also do liver/kidney function testing to make sure the med is not affecting those functions. My GSD was on it for 3 months for perianal fistula's. It worked, and he's been in remission for a little over a year. I also do not vaccinate him anymore, and have to be doubly careful of where he goes as he now has a compromised immune system. Allergies, can be from so many things it's hard to straighen out when you can't get a definitive diagnosis. Atopica can certainly be a life saver, but it most likely is not a "cure". It will shut down the immune system and put the dog into remission. How long? who knows , each dog's system is different. Long term use is not recommended, but as you say, the steroids long term can also wreck havoc on a dog's system as well. Good luck, I hope it works for you like it worked for my dog. Diane __________________ Diane @ Jakoda Acres Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD CGC TT HIC OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx HIC NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-O N-TN Jakoda's Jagged Edge (in training)

03-05-2006, 12:35 AM	#9
Jynx Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Old Lyme, CT Posts: 32	atopica just wanted to add,,I saw your post say side effects can include diarhea, vomiting but will go away..Don't count on that. IF your dog is lethargic (which you might see in the beginning), has diarhea, vomiting, and is not acting right, if it didn't clear up in a couple days I would immediately discontinue use, prolonging using a drug this powerful with those side effects that aren't going away, is basically putting poison in your dog. Some dogs can not tolerate ATopica. Also, it's advised (I don't know if your vet told you) to give the pill the same time each day, either 2 hours BEFORE or 2 hours AFTER a meal. If you have any questions, feel free to ask away..I got pretty "drug " savvy when I went with atopica for my dog Diane __________________ Diane @ Jakoda Acres Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD CGC TT HIC OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx HIC NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-O N-TN Jakoda's Jagged Edge (in training)

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02-26-2006, 04:11 PM	#3
chacha Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Elk River, Minnesota Posts: 27	Thanks for the info. Your sis can also go on the Atopica website. www.us.atopica.com. The dose is given based on the weight of the dog. Fred weighs 115. So the first month cost us $432.00. If it works then he will drop down to every other day and it will cost us $225.00 next month. By the 3rd month he should be down to every 3,5 or 7 days. Depends on his body. The cost will drop again. I feel its worth the try. The steroids he is on is working but they are killing him too.

03-02-2006, 01:02 PM	#4
Patch O' Pits Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 714	Be very careful; when they tell you a drug has 'NO' side effects... How long has it been around? Are there any studies on it's long term effects? Has your dog had allergy testing done? Have you tried the allergy shots with him? If so what is he allergic too. Have you consulted a holistic vet? That is also something I would suggest if you haven't What food do you feed and what suppliments does he take Good luck with your dog... I hope it works for him

03-02-2006, 05:42 PM	#5
chacha Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Elk River, Minnesota Posts: 27	The drug has been around a long time for humans for a anti-rejection drug. As far as I know its been used for dogs for several years 5+. There are some side effects nausea,vomitting,diarrhea,and papilomas on the gums. Studies have shown they are short term and go away with continued treatment. So far Fred has had none. I did get Fred tested for allergies 4.5 years ago. He is allergic to Dust,mold,maple,aspen,corn pollen and ragweed. We did try allergy infections for 1.5 years it didn't work. I have tried combinations of antihistimines,shots and steroids. We have tried many combos to keep the steroids down to a minumum. Nothing has worked. I have been trying for 5 years. I did try a Holistic approch and we had to get him of the steroids in order to do this. But Freds body can't handle the allergens so he broke out into a flow blown whole body skin infection. They holistic vet admitted it was not going to work. So he had to go back on steroids. Fred is eating Solid Gold food. Trust me I have done everything. If there are long term effects with this med it is still better then the Steroids. If this med doesn't work we have to put him down. He hasn't suffered over the years I have made sure of it. But the steroids are catching up with him and he is showing signs of side effects from them.All of his lab work is still normal. Liver and Kidneys are functioning.But his skin is starting to thin and change pigment. And his dose needs to increase because of the itching and I am not willing to do that anymore. I have spent thousands of dollars to save this dog. But he has just been given a bumb deal when it comes to his health. I really hope it works for him too. Thanks.

03-02-2006, 11:00 PM	#7
chacha Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Elk River, Minnesota Posts: 27	So far he is doing good. It looks promising. I have been able to reduce is steroids in half after a week. If I can get him completely off it will be a miracle. Thanks

03-06-2006, 02:58 AM	#10
chacha Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Elk River, Minnesota Posts: 27	Thanks for the info Jynx. Fred has only been on it for 11 days. It is a drug and I know it has side effects but they aren't as bad as most drugs. So far Fred has not had any side effects. I really don't know if its even going to work for him. If it does work I don't know how long he will be on it. Like I said before this is his last chance. We have tried everything else. I can't worry about the long term right now,we have to worry about today. Just to keep him comfortable on a daily basis is all I worry about. I didn't know about the hair loss and a side effect. That is not mentioned on the website,drug info insert or by my vet. With everything that I have read about this drug the percentage of these side effects are small. The drugs side effects are lesser on dogs than they are in humans. Besides that they are serious and I do have to keep a eye on them. Fred does get liver and kidney functions tests because of his steroid use so we are used to that. I am glad your dog was helped by this drug. I sure hope it works for mine.