- Joined
- Apr 14, 2023
- Messages
- 31
@Dr. jeff
Hi Dr. Jeff!
So, looking back on our last correspondence, it was either Saturday or Sunday (8/3 or 4) when I started giving Buddy 3mg CBD in chew form, 1.5mg at 6:30AM and 1.5mg at 2:30PM. Yesterday (8/7) Buddy stopped eating (he had vomited the night before). Only once before have I seen him refuse a meal in his life, and that was when he was started on zonisamide on 7/1 last month. The neurology vet suggested I give him a drug to stimulate appetite, but I did not want to give him an appetite stimulant on top of all the other drugs he takes, so they gave me a prescription for topiramate to replace zonisamide. I filled it, but never used it because Buddy's appetite returned to normal when I started using sardines and goat cheese as toppers. After the initial adjustment, he didn't even need the toppers, as he was eating normally. I figured "why mess with success."
I did some digging online, and I am wondering if the CBD has enhanced the effects of zonisamide? First of all, up till this time, I would only give him CBD intermittently and rarely, as need be. As of last weekend, I put him on a two or three times daily dose (once I had to give him a little more after the two doses), so he might have a therapeutic level in his system now. I read that CBD interacts with zonisamide, and can enhance the effects. In this case, it is a very unwanted enhancement! Yesterday, he did eat, but later than he usually does. Today, even putting lots of sardines in the bowl hasn't helped. He just picks the toppers off and leaves the food.
I am SO reluctant to give up on CBD, as it seems to help his more frequent barking spells. But I am thinking I should wean the dose down and see if we can get his appetite back. Maybe give him 2mg daily (the lowest possible dose for his weight), but I am not sure how effective that will be in stopping the barking spells. I think I am going to order some toppers I saw in your recommended products section. I don't want to try topiramate, as it also interacts with CBD and can cause inappetance.
Also, this morning has been 38 days grand mal free, but he seemed to be having focal seizures (not sure that would be the label, but a less severe incident). He was rolling around in bed (which he does frequently), but I have never been sure if this is normal (it doesn't look like a normal back scratch), or a type of seizure, not grand mal. He wanted to go out at 5:30AM, and stood barking in the center of the yard. A while later, when I tried to feed him, he was frantically sniffing and licking the floor, and I have never seen that before. It seemed like it could be a seizure of sorts. His seizures do seem to have to do with smells. He has a piriform glioma. Could this type of tumor cause seizures that seem smell related at times?
I am asking you rather than the neurology department, as the last time this happened, the neurosurgeon who sees Buddy regularly recommended an appetite stimulant, I mean a drug, and I don't want to layer drugs on top of drugs. Also, they are not against CBD, but they don't recommend it as they say there is not enough research yet. But they have been very positive about me trying it. Do you think it would do any good to try topiramate (very reluctant to make any changes, especially when he was eating normally two days ago). So reduce or eliminate CBD (and would this help the barking spells), try the toppers on your site, switch to topiramate? The neurology vets also gave me a prescription for a sedative, trazadone. Again, I am reluctant to use it, and was hoping CBD would be a good substitute bark-stopper. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated! Thank you so much, as always!
Ann & Buddy
P.S. I asked the neurosurgeon who oversees Buddy last month if he thinks his lack of appetite then had to do with his cancer, and he said no, he thought it was drug-related.
Hi Dr. Jeff!
So, looking back on our last correspondence, it was either Saturday or Sunday (8/3 or 4) when I started giving Buddy 3mg CBD in chew form, 1.5mg at 6:30AM and 1.5mg at 2:30PM. Yesterday (8/7) Buddy stopped eating (he had vomited the night before). Only once before have I seen him refuse a meal in his life, and that was when he was started on zonisamide on 7/1 last month. The neurology vet suggested I give him a drug to stimulate appetite, but I did not want to give him an appetite stimulant on top of all the other drugs he takes, so they gave me a prescription for topiramate to replace zonisamide. I filled it, but never used it because Buddy's appetite returned to normal when I started using sardines and goat cheese as toppers. After the initial adjustment, he didn't even need the toppers, as he was eating normally. I figured "why mess with success."
I did some digging online, and I am wondering if the CBD has enhanced the effects of zonisamide? First of all, up till this time, I would only give him CBD intermittently and rarely, as need be. As of last weekend, I put him on a two or three times daily dose (once I had to give him a little more after the two doses), so he might have a therapeutic level in his system now. I read that CBD interacts with zonisamide, and can enhance the effects. In this case, it is a very unwanted enhancement! Yesterday, he did eat, but later than he usually does. Today, even putting lots of sardines in the bowl hasn't helped. He just picks the toppers off and leaves the food.
I am SO reluctant to give up on CBD, as it seems to help his more frequent barking spells. But I am thinking I should wean the dose down and see if we can get his appetite back. Maybe give him 2mg daily (the lowest possible dose for his weight), but I am not sure how effective that will be in stopping the barking spells. I think I am going to order some toppers I saw in your recommended products section. I don't want to try topiramate, as it also interacts with CBD and can cause inappetance.
Also, this morning has been 38 days grand mal free, but he seemed to be having focal seizures (not sure that would be the label, but a less severe incident). He was rolling around in bed (which he does frequently), but I have never been sure if this is normal (it doesn't look like a normal back scratch), or a type of seizure, not grand mal. He wanted to go out at 5:30AM, and stood barking in the center of the yard. A while later, when I tried to feed him, he was frantically sniffing and licking the floor, and I have never seen that before. It seemed like it could be a seizure of sorts. His seizures do seem to have to do with smells. He has a piriform glioma. Could this type of tumor cause seizures that seem smell related at times?
I am asking you rather than the neurology department, as the last time this happened, the neurosurgeon who sees Buddy regularly recommended an appetite stimulant, I mean a drug, and I don't want to layer drugs on top of drugs. Also, they are not against CBD, but they don't recommend it as they say there is not enough research yet. But they have been very positive about me trying it. Do you think it would do any good to try topiramate (very reluctant to make any changes, especially when he was eating normally two days ago). So reduce or eliminate CBD (and would this help the barking spells), try the toppers on your site, switch to topiramate? The neurology vets also gave me a prescription for a sedative, trazadone. Again, I am reluctant to use it, and was hoping CBD would be a good substitute bark-stopper. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated! Thank you so much, as always!
Ann & Buddy
P.S. I asked the neurosurgeon who oversees Buddy last month if he thinks his lack of appetite then had to do with his cancer, and he said no, he thought it was drug-related.
