Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: swampmaxmum on February 23, 2010, 13:33:28 PM
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Can anyone give me info about how long the generic fortekor (benazacare?) has been around for and is it/was it licensed for cats in the UK and EXACTLY the same as fortekor please? I am in an ugly dispute with ex vet about his bill. One bone of contention is he kept insisting the generic wasn't fully licensed in the UK for cats. I have to put together an email setting out why we are so unhappy. This is part of it.
What is the price difference please between the 2 drugs? thanks v much for your help. It's not an easy situation but I can't ignore him for much longer (well I could but....).
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Have to say I have no idea sweetie, but hope you get it resolved :hug:
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I don't know, but I'm sure Mark will ;) - pretty sure he's using benazacare for Clapton.
Nice to see you Kate :hug:
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I think Mark does know, he mentioned it to me and I did ask my vet because I tried to get some but... I think she said it wasn't licensed yet so our vets don't use it unfortunately and if they wanted to they would have to apply?
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I think it only went on sale some time last year. I believe it is on the cascade system whereby a named drug is prescribed first and others if asked for. Ie a vet would prescribe Fortekor but would give you Benazecare if you asked for it. My vet suggested it when I was moaning about the cats being able to smell Fortekor and the size of them. If you email Animalcare Ltd, they will tell you when it was Licensed. I contacted them last year to suggest they bring out a 2.5mg version as it only comes in 5mg & 20mg ATM. I received a nice reply from one of the directors saying he understood where i was coming from speaking as both a vet and the owner of a cat that hates being pilled. BTW, I picked more up a few days ago - 2 boxes (14 tabs per box) = 56 days was £23.00 9 (approx 1/2 the price of Fortekor)
The active ingredient is identical to fortekor. Benazedril Hydrochloride.
ETA - It looks like it was licensed for use in cats in April 2007 (before that it was licensed for congestive heart failure in dogs)
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thanks Mark, that's very helpful.
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Sorry Kate - I just read my own post and noticed it should have said April 2009 for cats.
http://www.vetsonline.com/actualites/detail/19627/new-addition-of-cats-to-benazecare-5mg-licence.html
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Its not if you ask for the other its if the animal cannot use the fist choice, eg it creates nausea or other side effect preventing its use
Good example is thyroid meds, vidalta and felimazole are first choice as they are specifically for cats, if they dont work the vet can offer neomercazole as an alternative but not till the others are tried
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Its not if you ask for the other its if the animal cannot use the fist choice, eg it creates nausea or other side effect preventing its use
Good example is thyroid meds, vidalta and felimazole are first choice as they are specifically for cats, if they dont work the vet can offer neomercazole as an alternative but not till the others are tried
yep that's what my vet said to me
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I suppose Benazecare isn't really an alternative. It is the same drug but a generic version. No vet should have an issue with dispensing it. I suppose you could say as I did that I couldn't get my cats to take Fortekor due to the "palatable" smell.
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thanks Mark. I think the reps are still pushing fortekor. That was my impression last year anyhow as it was defo after April that I asked for it and was told they'd checked and it wasn't yet licenced so "may not be the best choice for such ill cats" sort of comment. Fortekor cost me £28 approx a packet, lasting 28 days.