Good morning Vets!

One of my kitties, short-hair calico, spayed, gets a rasping cough every so often. Sounds like a bad respiratory issue, but it's actually not. I was having my vet administer Depo-Medrol shots just about monthly, but stopped that because I didn't want to shorten her life with a steroid.

Enter Chlorpheniramine Maleate. I give her these pills and it clears up the cough and anything else associated with it. And as I understand it, it doesn't have the side effects of Depo.

Question...the bottle my vet gave me instructed to give the pills every 12 hours for 14 days. If my kitty's symptoms subside in 4-6 days, is there a need to continue giving the pills? Is Chlorpheniramine like an antibiotic that you have to finish the ENTIRE course of medication to prevent building an "immunity" to it? I'm to understand this is just an antihistamine.

Guide me, oh glorious care-takers of our furry family members....

Thanks!!

Sorry, I’m not a Vet. I just find your post intriguing.

I take Chlorpheniramine Maleate myself for allergies. Works well. 4 hour dosage duration. I get mine at wallymart or Walgreens.

It’s not exactly a big seller or well known. A pharmacist recommended I try it.

I too have a kitty , best wishes to you.
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Not a vet. Medication is an antihistamine. Controls symptoms. OTC for humans to treat allergies. Hope this helps.

^^^^

Thanks Gene and Michael. [thumbs up] Yup...I know it's an antihistamine. I'm just wondering if I have to give it to my fur-ball for 14 days as stated on the bottle or if I can cut her off cold turkey when her symptoms subside. I'm thinking the latter, since it's not an antibiotic. But just wanted to make sure with our resident professionals in the fur-ball biz....

I prescribe it regularly on an as needed basis. No necessity or benefits to giving it when not needed unless it is needed all the time. It is a very safe, inexpensive and underutilized medicine. Far better than long term corticosteroid use.

Tommy

What kind of problems do long term steroid use present?

Same side-effects for humans...

Cardiac/Heart issues
Kidney issues
Diabetes
Probably Liver issues
etc.
etc.

I believe the OTC brand name of chlorophenaramine maleate for humans was “Chlor-Trimeton”. I used it frequently when I lived in moldy old Houston.

Apparently it was discontinued last year.

HUH!! The things you learn! I used to use Chlor-Trimeton YEARS ago. I replaced it with Claritin-D...

Update on my fur-ball...she's responding well to the Chlorpheniramine and doing better with the coughing episodes. She is a bit lethargic, which is a side effect of the med.

quote:

Originally posted by horsedoc:
I prescribe it regularly on an as needed basis. No necessity or benefits to giving it when not needed unless it is needed all the time. It is a very safe, inexpensive and underutilized medicine. Far better than long term corticosteroid use.

Tommy

Thanks, Doc Tommy!!! I'll probably keep her on it for no more than 3 days and then reassess. If she's not coughing after that, I'll discontinue. Really appreciate your expertise and advice!!