Sierra - Questions about response to Lysodren

[kpotter013]

Hi. Our dog Sierra was diagnosed with Cushing's recently and we have started her on Lysodren. It appears since she started the medication 3 weeks ago she is worsening in some ways, but improving in others and appears to have had a stroke. The vet has assured us it is not associated with the medication but I am worried. I was just curious as to what others experience has been in treatment of Cushing's with Lysodren, how quickly you have seen changes etc. Thanks!

[labblab]

Hello and welcome to you and Sierra! You will see that I have moved a copy of your post from our "Checking In" thread so as to create a new thread that is your very own. This way, it will be much easier for our members to reply to you directly with their thoughts and suggestions.

I apologize, but I am first going to start off by asking you several questions. Can you tell us more about Sierra's overall health history --- what symptoms was she experiencing that prompted the Cushing's diagnosis, and what diagnostic tests did she undergo?

Lysodren is not a drug that is typically given long-term on a daily basis. There are generally two different dosing approaches. One ("loading") involves giving a fairly large daily dose for several days until the adrenal cortex has eroded sufficiently so as to begin resolving the Cushing's symptoms. Sometimes the loading phase can stretch on for an extended period of time, but an end-point is always expected. At that point, the dosing is lowered and changed to 2-3 times weekly ("maintenance"). The other approach is to start from the get-go with an initial lower maintenance dose given 2-3 times weekly. This is usually a treatment approach for "Atypical Cushing's" (cortisol levels are not abnormally elevated, but other adrenal hormones are).

With both these approaches, monitoring ACTH stimulation tests are essential for determining the extent to which both the adrenal cortex and cortisol level have been affected by the drug. Can you tell us how Sierra has been taking her Lysodren (which approach, her weight and Lysodren dose, and the results of monitoring tests)?

Can you also tell us more specifically how she is doing well, and also how she is not? Problems can arise if a dog is overdosed or underdosed. If we know more about Sierra's behavior and test results, we can better assess the extent to which the Lysodren may be involved.

Thank you you so much for all the additional info you care to share!
Marianne

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi and welcome!

If your baby has been taking Lysodren on a daily basis for three weeks STOP IT NOW regardless of what your vet has assured you of. If this is how the vet is handling Lysodren, they don't know what they are doing and are putting your baby at extreme risk so please stop the med if she has been on it daily for 3 weeks straight. I don't mean to be harsh nor frighten you, but I do want to get your attention so you know this is not the proper way to handle this drug at all. You will also need to call your vet and insist on an ACTH to see if the cortisol is too low, which can be life threatening and that test needs to be done TODAY.

Looking forward to hearing your answers to Marianne's questions and hoping your sweet Sierra is ok this morning. Anxious to hear from you.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang