christinepi Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 Is it safe to use the human Gabapentin that I used to take (100mg) on my dog? The vet said it might help with his back issues, but wouldn't commit to an answer yes/no on the human vs dog Gabapentin issue (apparently against the law for her to answer that). I still have some 100 pills and would love to save some $$ (and not waste medication), but only if safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 (edited) I think it is exactly the same. Edited July 27, 2018 by Remolacha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 Wow, that was prompt--thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 Just snooped around the internet and xylitol is mentioned. It appears that it's in the liquid form of Gabapentin. Is there any way of knowing whether it's in the pill form as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 Just snooped around the internet and xylitol is mentioned. It appears that it's in the liquid form of Gabapentin. Is there any way of knowing whether it's in the pill form as well? Can you call the company and ask? I honestly have no idea if this is possible, but might be worth a try. Quote Mom of bridge babies Regis and Dusty. Wrote a book about shelter dogs! I sell things on Etsy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 Good idea. If I can't find out for sure, I'll just get vet approved ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 (edited) Usually, xylitol is used to sweeten/flavor liquid meds, especially those that must be given to children. (Gabapentin is useful in preventing seizures.) Gapabentin capsules contain a powder, and I've never run into xylitol in them, but you could call your pharmacist to check. When my dogs needed gabapentin, my vet wrote a script that I filled at Walgreen's. Edited July 27, 2018 by KF_in_Georgia Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachbum1 Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 Same stuff in pill form, available everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 And then I read something like this and it makes me wonder... https://www.justanswer.com/veterinary/5f8qy-three-does-gabapentin-kill-dog-within-48-hours.html All kind of confusing. I tried to nail down a phone number for the manufacturer, but it was bought by some other company 2 years ago and I'm sure there's no way to trace that back in any reliable way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Time4ANap Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 Info at the link below. Xylitol is only a concern in liquid form or if the prescription was compounded using a product containing xylitol. Gabapentin capsules and tablets do not contain it. https://atwork.avma.org/2017/05/30/eliminate-xylitol-from-canine-prescriptions/ Quote Camp Broodie. The current home of Mark Kay Mark Jack and Gracie Kiowa Safe Joan. Always missing my boy Rocket Hi Noon Rocket, Allie Phoenix Dynamite, Kate Miss Kate, Starz Under Da Starz, Petunia MW Neptunia, Diva Astar Dashindiva, and LaVida I've Got Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 Thanks, that's reassuring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted July 28, 2018 Share Posted July 28, 2018 It's the same. Dogs and I have swapped meds for years. Big problems here are that many pharmacies no longer fill dog scripts according to my vet and my co-pay on human has gone from minimal to over $100...which makes no sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Time4ANap Posted July 28, 2018 Share Posted July 28, 2018 I've just started Rocket on Gabapentin this week. He somehow ended up with a lumbar strain while doing zoomies in the back yard, or slipped when he came in. I'm not sure what happened since I stepped away for 30 seconds to fill his water bowl, He was already on Tramadol once a day for some leg pain, but the Gabapentin seems to be making a difference. We are introducing it slowly and lowering the Tramadol dose a little at a time since he's been on it for a while. He could barely get up and down on Sunday night and Monday. By Tuesday night / Wednesday morning, he had started roaching again after starting the Gabapentin. I'm also pretty sure that he popped his low back into place on Monday night while laying down, as he let out a yelp as he lowered on to the bed, and then was moving much better. I guess he went to the Pawmer School of Chiropractic. Sometimes a boy forgets he's almost 13 and has to do some zoomies. Quote Camp Broodie. The current home of Mark Kay Mark Jack and Gracie Kiowa Safe Joan. Always missing my boy Rocket Hi Noon Rocket, Allie Phoenix Dynamite, Kate Miss Kate, Starz Under Da Starz, Petunia MW Neptunia, Diva Astar Dashindiva, and LaVida I've Got Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted July 28, 2018 Share Posted July 28, 2018 I get my dog drugs, including Gabapentin, at my pharmacy. It's the same rx. The pharmacists are always amazed when I can provide actual birth dates for each of the "patients" Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted July 28, 2018 Share Posted July 28, 2018 Conner has been on Gabapentin for a few years and I get it filled at Costco, it is the “human” drug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 28, 2018 Author Share Posted July 28, 2018 I think that all makes a convincing case, thank you all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted July 28, 2018 Share Posted July 28, 2018 Fyi, you can always Google the pill form and the number on the pill, ie. "Capsule 116" and it will pull up the information including drug, dosage, other ingredients, etc. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 28, 2018 Author Share Posted July 28, 2018 Fyi, you can always Google the pill form and the number on the pill, ie. "Capsule 116" and it will pull up the information including drug, dosage, other ingredients, etc. Brilliant idea. I did that and indeed, no xylitol, but mannitol, but that doesn't seem to be an issue for dogs, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 31, 2018 Author Share Posted July 31, 2018 Next question, and I will ask the vet this question, too: what's a safe amount of gabapentin for a 73 lb dog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 The dosing range is very wide, so a lot of the amount depends in the purpose. Most will start out low at @100mg twice a day due to some dogs having trouble with sedation until they become acclimated to the drug, which can take a couple days. But amounts can go as high as 300mg (or more) every 6 hours for extreme pain, even for 73 lb girls. Dr Couto recommends dosing every 6 to 8 hours instead of the suggested twice a day as greyhounds metabolize this drug faster than other breeds. You don't want to have a big dip in pain relief at the end of every dosing period so dosing may need to be adjusted - either more mgs or closer together - once you have her on it. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 31, 2018 Author Share Posted July 31, 2018 The dosing range is very wide, so a lot of the amount depends in the purpose. Most will start out low at @100mg twice a day due to some dogs having trouble with sedation until they become acclimated to the drug, which can take a couple days. But amounts can go as high as 300mg (or more) every 6 hours for extreme pain, even for 73 lb girls. Dr Couto recommends dosing every 6 to 8 hours instead of the suggested twice a day as greyhounds metabolize this drug faster than other breeds. You don't want to have a big dip in pain relief at the end of every dosing period so dosing may need to be adjusted - either more mgs or closer together - once you have her on it. That's very helpful, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christinepi Posted July 31, 2018 Author Share Posted July 31, 2018 That's very helpful, thanks. I started him on twice 100mg per day. It seems it's a see-how-it-goes kind of approach, since nobody can say exactly what an individual dog might need? I'll stay on the 2x/100mg for 2-3 days. If there's no change, should I up it, say, by 100mg every few days (or more slowly)? Should I go to 3 times a day in a few days? I just don't want to give him too much... the vet is clearly struggling also to give me clear instructions. It may not be possible, maybe? How do people give pills every 6 hours? How does that work at night? I'm in bed trying to sleep from 9:15pm until 6:30am... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted July 31, 2018 Share Posted July 31, 2018 Honestly I would just dose it twice a day for a while and see how it goes. I've only ever dosed any med every 6 hrs for dogs with end stage cancer. A single person cannot maintain that long term imo. If,you have a second person on a different schedule its easier. But its really not necessary. 6 hrs is the half life. That doesnt mean it is out of the system in 6 hrs. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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