Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Amitriptyline not effective short-term for cat urinary tract disease
By Kraijer, M et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2003·Hospital for Small Animals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: The short-term clinical efficacy of amitriptyline in the management of idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease: a controlled clinical study.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with painful urination and other symptoms of idiopathic Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) were treated with a daily dose of amitriptyline, a medication often used for pain relief, alongside antibiotics. However, after a week of treatment, there was no noticeable improvement in their symptoms compared to those receiving a placebo. This suggests that amitriptyline may not be effective for short-term relief of FLUTD symptoms, and further studies are needed to explore its long-term benefits.
People also search for: cat painful urination treatment · FLUTD medication for cats · amitriptyline for cats urinary issues
Abstract
In a controlled study, the effects of amitriptyline compared with that of a placebo in cats suffering from idiopathic Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) have been investigated. Thirty-six animals were selected by veterinary practitioners and treated with a placebo or 10mg amitriptyline once daily. All animals received concomitant antibiotic treatment. A total of 24 cats were included in the final assessment of the results. The severity of symptoms before and after treatment were compared between groups and showed no significant difference. Results indicated that the 7-day course of 10mg amitriptyline was not effective in the treatment of idiopathic FLUTD. Thus, it is considered not to be beneficial as a short-term therapy where the therapeutic results depend on peripheral effects of the drug. Long-term effects may be expected 4 or more weeks after the start of therapy and need to be further investigated.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12765630/