Cushing's disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, is a major disease that affects a large number of cats. It may strike at any age and in any breed of cat, though it's generally most common in cats that are on the older side. This condition is one that affects the adrenal glands. These glands are responsible for the production of a number of different hormones that move throughout your cat's bloodstream and work to regulate a variety of different bodily functions. For the best chances of addressing your pet's Cushing's disease, it's a good idea to consider medical treatments and drug regimens. Metyrapone is one of the leading drugs that is used to address this condition.
Metyrapone Overview
Cushing's Disease is characterized by an overproduction of glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids are naturally produced hormones that are meant to be in a healthy cat's body. However, if there are too many of these substances, particularly the most commonly referred to glucocorticoid, cortisol, in your pet's body, he may run into various health problems as a result.
Metyrapone works to combat the overproduction of hormones in your pet's adrenal glands. Although it is more successful than the other common drug therapies that are used to address Cushing's disease, it nonetheless doesn't have a great overall success rate. This means that metyrapone is often just a first attempt by vets at eliminating the problem in your cat's body.
Information about the Drug
Metyrapone blocks cortisol from being accepted and used in your pet's body. Thus, it doesn't affect the amount of cortisol that is produced. It contains some standard side effects, including the following:
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Behavior changes
- Lethargy
- Depression
It's entirely possible for your pet to have some sort of a negative allergic reaction to the medicine. This is characterized by rashes, difficulty breathing, choking, loss of consciousness and other serious symptoms. It should be dealt with immediately by a trained veterinary emergency professional.
Alternate Treatments
Because metyrapone has been shown to be less than totally effective in most cases, vets often recommend other methods of dealing with Cushing's disease in cats. One of the more common ways of doing this is surgery. Although it is a dangerous and difficult procedure to undergo and to perform, many veterinary surgeons will advise pet owners of animals with Cushing's disease to have their pet's adrenal glands surgically removed. This will eliminate the overproduction of hormones and will allow for a steady supply of hormones to be given via drug therapy instead. However, this treatment method, while very effective, is costly and will result in a great deal of recovery time for your pet.
For more information about Cushing's disease and how to properly treat your pet if he or she should develop this condition, speak with a vet in your area. Metyrapone is available through a veterinary prescription.