Eluracat for Cats
Formulation
Liquid
Active ingredient
Meloxicam
Category
Pain relief / anti-inflammatory
What is Eluracat?
Eluracat is the brand name for a drug called Capromorelin tartate. Eluracat is used to help improve your cat’s appetite and make them gain weight. It comes as a liquid you put straight into your cat’s mouth.
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What does Eluracat do?
The active ingredient in Eluracat is Capromorelin tartate, which works in two different ways.
- It binds to ‘Ghrelin’ hormone receptors in the brain. Ghrelin is the hormone normally responsible for increasing appetite. When capromorelin binds to ghrelin receptors, your cat’s appetite is stimulated, making them eat more and indirectly gain weight.
- It binds to hormone receptors in the pituitary gland which causes a release of growth hormone and directly stimulates weight gain via the liver.
The combination of these two actions causes Eluracat to increase appetite and cause weight gain.
What is Eluracat used for?
Eluracat is specifically intended for cats that have lost weight due to other long-lasting health issues. It is important to note that Eluracat is a supportive treatment and will not cure your cat’s long-lasting health conditions. Eluracat helps these cats gain weight.
Eluracat will support cats with long-lasting health issues, such as:
- Chronic Kidney disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Cancer
- Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD)
Which pets is Eluracat not suitable for?
There are certain conditions where Eluracat should be avoided or used with caution. How well Eluracat works in certain groups of cats is not known. In these cases, the use of Eluracat should follow a benefit-risk assessment carried out by your vet. They may still decide that Eluracat is your cat’s best option.
- Eluracat should not be used in cats with severely low blood volume or pressure.
- Eluracat should not be used in cats with acromegaly.
- Eluracat should not be used in pregnant, breeding, or lactating cats.
- Eluracat should be used with caution in cats with liver disease.
- Eluracat should be used with caution in cats who are also on steroids.
- Eluracat should be used with caution in cats who are also on drugs that decrease blood pressure and heart rate such as benazepril (Benazecare, Arixil, Banacep, BenazeVet, Benefortin, Fortekor, Kelapril, Nelio, MiPet Benazepet, and Prilben)
- Eluracat should be used with caution in cats with heart failure, heart arrythmias, and anaemia.
Eluracat is a very new medicine, so they’ve done the necessary safety tests but there are no post-market reports of it. At the moment, it hasn’t been shown to be effective in cats less than 6kg or for more than 3 months. They also don’t know how effective or safe it is in cats less than 10 months old or less than 2kg.
What are the side effects of Eluracat appetite stimulant in cats?
Whilst most pets tolerate Eluracat without any serious issues, it can have side effects just like all other medications.
- Drooling – This side effect is very common, affecting more than 1 in 10 cats, but usually goes away within a few minutes of dosing.
- Digestive issues – These include diarrhoea and vomiting which affect up to 1 in 10 cats.
- Low red blood cell count – This is also referred to as anaemia. It affects up to 1 in 10 cats.
- Skin lesions – Ulcers and sore patches on the mouth and chin especially. This effects up to 1 in 10 cats.
- Lethargy – Up to 1 in 10 cats will appear lethargic after taking Eluracat.
- Decrease in heart rate and blood pressure – These side effects are very rare, affecting less than 1 in 10,000 cats
Remember, not all pets will experience these side effects, and the benefits of using Eluracat often outweigh the risks. However, if you notice any concerning symptoms or changes in your pet’s behaviour or health while they are taking Eluracat, it’s important to contact your veterinarian immediately. They can provide guidance and adjust the treatment plan if necessary to ensure your pet’s safety and well-being.
Reporting pet drug side effects helps keep veterinary medicines safe. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) collates these reports and can force changes in the datasheet when new side effects are discovered. This is especially important for Eluracat, which is a brand new medication in the UK, so these reports are only just starting. You should report side effects even if they’re on the list above – they might be more or less common than the list above suggests. To report suspected side effects of Eluracat in the UK, click here.
How to give Eluracat safely
As with all medicines, it’s important to use Eluracat safely to reduce the risk of side effects. Here’s our top tips for safe use of Eluracat:
- Follow vet instructions: Always use Eluracat exactly as your vet has prescribed. This includes the right dose and frequency of doses. Never adjust the dose on your own, even if your cat seems to be feeling better or worse. If you aren’t sure of the dose prescribed, please call your vet to confirm.
- Shake the bottle: Eluracat is a suspension of powder in a liquid, which means the capromorelin may settle over time and become uneven in the bottle. Make sure you shake it to redistribute the drug before attaching the syringe and drawing up the dose.
- Give directly into mouth: Eluracat is designed to be given directly into your cat’s mouth, as it’s usually prescribed in cats that aren’t eating well. Holding your cat firmly with his back to you, gently raise his head with one hand and insert the syringe into the gap in the teeth at the side, then depress the plunger.
- Check with your vet if giving anything else: Your vet should be aware of other drugs your pet is on, but it’s always worth double-checking in case there’s been a miscommunication somewhere. Eluracat interacts with some drugs, including steroids and drugs commonly prescribed for heart disease. If your cat is on supplements or non-prescription treatments (even if these are herbal) you should also tell your vet when they prescribe Eluracat, as they may not be suitable to be given together.
- Report any accidental overdose to your vet immediately: If you have mistakenly given too much Eluracat, speak to a vet as soon as you realise the error. They may recommend blood tests, intravenous fluids, or monitoring, depending how much the overdose is.
How much monitoring do pets need on Eluracat?
Low
Eluracat doesn’t need any special monitoring
Eluracat doesn’t need any special monitoring, but the conditions that are causing your cat to eat less may still need regular checkups.
What does Eluracat cost?
? Unknown
Eluracat is brand-new to market so we have no cost data for it yet.
We’ll update this section when Eluracat becomes available.
You don’t have to buy medicines from your vet, but if you choose to buy them elsewhere your vet will need to give you a written prescription. Vets are allowed to charge a reasonable fee to cover their professional time checking doses and writing a written prescription for use elsewhere, so you should take this into account when calculating the cost of Eluracat from an online pharmacy.
Eluracat FAQs
What is the shelf life of capromorelin?
The shelf life of capromorelin (Eluracat) as packaged is two years. Once the package is opened, the product will last 3 months.
Eluracat Alternatives
Eluracat isn’t for every cat. If it’s not suiting your pet or you’re struggling to give it, here are some ideas:
There are no other formulations of Capromorelin tartate on the market at the moment.
Other appetite stimulant drugs exist with various formulations:
- Mirtazapine (Mirataz) – an ointment that is absorbed from the skin
- Diazepam injections (these have to be given by your vet and are short-acting, but might give your cat a ‘boost’)
- Cyproheptadine tablets (these are a prescription-only human drug very occasionally used under the prescribing cascade to improve appetite)
Anti-sickness medications are also sometimes used to improve appetite, these include:
- Metoclopramide (e.g. Reglan)
- Maropitant (e.g. Cerenia, Prevomax, Arocenia, Vetemax, Vominil)
Directly treating your cat’s underlying long-lasting health condition should also improve your cat’s appetite and increase their weight.
Remember, these drugs are all prescription-only medications, and your vet will need to prescribe them after careful consideration. The alternatives above are only listed so you can see what options your cat has if they’re not taking their Eluracat.
Eluracat Datasheet
All drugs have a manufacturer’s datasheet, which gives information about the drug’s use and possible side effects. There is usually one with your Eluracat bottle, but if you have lost it you can click on the button below to be taken on an online version.
More help
It’s stressful when cats are ill and not eating. The courses below have all been written by vets to help you care for your ill cat holistically, as well as explain your cat’s illness in terms you can understand.
Please note that the information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only. Although it has been written by a vet, we cannot consider the individual nature of your pet’s problems so it does not constitute veterinary advice. If you have questions about your pet’s medication or their health you should contact a vet, who will be able to help.
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