Is this pill really Methimazole?
Our cat has been prescribed 5mg of Methimazole for a hyperactive thyroid. We just got the prescription refilled, but the new pills look different from the old ones. The new ones are round, white, and have the letters "VM" imprinted on one side, with a divider line on the other side. We've searched online databases and photos but can't find any examples of any Methimazole manufacturer's product that looks like this. We are concerned that we might have received the wrong pill, but the vet is closed until Monday. On a long shot, does anyone happen to know if the pill described above is actually Methimazole?
User Comments
- Yep, those are correct. They're just from a different manufacturer -- I think the Par Pharm ones look like that if I'm not mistaken. If your vet refilled the script, they might just be using a different supplier.
As a tip, if you get a prescription from the vet and buy the pills at Costco, you can save a huge amount of money!
Also, if you haven't already considered it, I-131 radioactive iodine is the preferred method of treating hyperthyroidism in cats. It's a cure in 98% of cases as it destroys the tumor which causes the underlying condition. While the tumor is almost always benign (non-cancerous), it can become cancerous at any time and it grows of its own accord, so even while a cat is on medication, it continues to grow. This typically ends up in the cat requiring more medication over time to do the same job the lower dose did originally. The medication "treats" the condition by blocking iodine from getting into the thyroid gland and therefore the functional tissue of the tumor cannot make thyroid hormone. However, it doesn't prevent it from growing. As it grows, and the cat becomes hyperthyroid again, the liver, kidneys and heart are affected. I-131 is a single shot of radioactive iodine. Since the thyroid is the only gland in the body that uses iodine, the radioactivity doesn't affect any other organ. It just blows out the tumor. The healthy tissue of the thyroid will have atrophied when the tumor took over and once I-131 has done its job, that tissue goes back to work and the cat is healthy again with 1-3 months.
There are hospitals all over the US providing the treatment. Costs range depending on where live from $500 to $1700. But it really pays to look around as there might be a facility just a short drive away that is a lot cheaper. Most facilities accept CareCredit.com (interest free, no application loans) and so you can finance it even if your credit is not great and repay it without interest over 2 years for quite possibly less than you currently spend on medication. The cost for a cat on Methimazole vs. a cat that has I-131 breaks even after about 1 year to 1.5 years.
Cats do have to be confined in the hospital after the shot for a few days. This ranges from 2-7 days depending on where you live and the city and state regulations.
My eldest cat is now 19.5. He was on Methimazole for 5 months and didn't do well on it. He lost a lot of weight and was just not in good shape. We then did I-131. That was 3 years ago and he's doing great. I only wish I'd done it sooner. We're on our way to the 2-0 now, fingers crossed.
Good luck and give your kitty a hug from our kitties.
- Vet Tech/Cat Lover's Q&A: Thanks for the great response and the tip about Par Pharm. But according to Par Pharm's web site (http://www.parpharm.com/products/index.j... it says that their Methimazole tablets are imprinted on the scored side with "EM" and the number of milligrams. I can't find any reference to "VM". I remain nervous. As for your advice about radioactive iodine treatment, thanks -- we are aware of it and want to do it, but our vet is concerned about our cat's condition and wants us to use Methimazole for a bit first so she can see how he reacts. Thanks again!
- Vet Tech, Cat Shelter Volunteer, Owned by 5 Wonderful Cats ranging in age from 19.5 to 3.5.
- Follow-up: we have confirmed that the pill is indeed Methimazole and Vet Tech/Cat Lover's answer is therefore correct. Thanks for your help and advice!