Thank you Paula!
Well said. I was lurking out here feeling (almost) guilty for using Cypro.
However, the results have been great for my guy as far as the symptoms go.
(My 21 yr. old will be doing his first recognized dressage competition in 3
years this coming weekend: Intermediare I). He hasn't looked this good in
3-4 years. He's even shedding---like crazy! His summer coat is coming in
very short and shiny. I had forgotten what it was like!

I'm fortunate that we seem to have caught the problems fairly early and seem
to be able to manage it. He has not had any laminitis problems (yet...knock
on wood) so I feel like I'm a little ahead of the game.

I'm currently waiting for results of a recent ACTH test. The last one done 3
months ago had not shown any improvement in the numbers even tho the horse
has clearly improved. I'm hoping for better this time. My vet (and a couple
of other vets) say to pay more attention to what the horse is showing than
what the numbers say. I like what my horse is telling me but I would feel
better if the lab. would confirm it for me!

Regarding misinformation in that earlier post:"CYPROHEPTADINE/PERIACTIN....A
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG....USED IN HUMANS TO MANAGE SCHIZOPHRENIA."

Cypro is primarily used as an antihistamine (see the package insert). While
it is both a histamine and serotonin antagonist, throughout the package
insert it is referred to as an antihistamine and under the Indications
category it only lists allergic reaction types of problems. THERE IS NO
MENTION OF ITS USE FOR TREATING SCHIZOPHRENIA...ANYWHERE!

As for side effects of Cypro, the one extra benefit my horse is experiencing
is that his springtime allergies are much less severe this year (the
antihistamine effect of cypro).

Your comments on the ABC research are interesting as I have heard similar
things from some of my professionial contacts. That is why I have not looked
into it myself. My horse seems to be on a good path right now so I'm not
willing to gamble on a research project that doesn't come highly recommended
to me.

Thanks for speaking up!
Carla Davis

I'm a psychiatric nurse with 25 years experience and
have never heard of using cyproheptadine for
schizophrenia. At one point I was interested in the
ABC study but they never sent the research to my vet
to study, so I'm reluctant to use any treatment that I
can't read research on. Like I said in an earlier
post, my last vet and I were questioning the earlier
diagnosis of cushings with my horse but believe there
is something wrong with her, so will call it
cushing's. Again since her blood work has been so
labile without any treatment, I'm reluctant to try any
meds since she seems to be doing ok for a 30 year old
horse and has had no complications so far. Has anyone
heard of any disease process that could have similar
symptoms as cushing's? Her thyroid studies have been
consistently normal.
Linda

--- Carla Davis <lmdavis@...> wrote:

Thank you Paula!
Well said. I was lurking out here feeling (almost)
guilty for using Cypro.
However, the results have been great for my guy as
far as the symptoms go.
(My 21 yr. old will be doing his first recognized
dressage competition in 3
years this coming weekend: Intermediare I). He
hasn't looked this good in
3-4 years. He's even shedding---like crazy! His
summer coat is coming in
very short and shiny. I had forgotten what it was
like!

I'm fortunate that we seem to have caught the
problems fairly early and seem
to be able to manage it. He has not had any
laminitis problems (yet...knock
on wood) so I feel like I'm a little ahead of the
game.

I'm currently waiting for results of a recent ACTH
test. The last one done 3
months ago had not shown any improvement in the
numbers even tho the horse
has clearly improved. I'm hoping for better this
time. My vet (and a couple
of other vets) say to pay more attention to what the
horse is showing than
what the numbers say. I like what my horse is
telling me but I would feel
better if the lab. would confirm it for me!

Regarding misinformation in that earlier
post:"CYPROHEPTADINE/PERIACTIN....A
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG....USED IN HUMANS TO MANAGE
SCHIZOPHRENIA."

Cypro is primarily used as an antihistamine (see
the package insert). While
it is both a histamine and serotonin antagonist,
throughout the package
insert it is referred to as an antihistamine and
under the Indications
category it only lists allergic reaction types of
problems. THERE IS NO
MENTION OF ITS USE FOR TREATING
SCHIZOPHRENIA...ANYWHERE!

As for side effects of Cypro, the one extra benefit
my horse is experiencing
is that his springtime allergies are much less
severe this year (the
antihistamine effect of cypro).

Your comments on the ABC research are interesting as
I have heard similar
things from some of my professionial contacts. That
is why I have not looked
into it myself. My horse seems to be on a good path
right now so I'm not
willing to gamble on a research project that doesn't
come highly recommended
to me.

Thanks for speaking up!
Carla Davis

-----Original Message-----
From:

sentto-376841-19-lmdavis=wa.freei.net@...

[mailto:sentto-376841-19-lmdavis=wa.freei.net@...]On

Behalf Of EquineCushings@...
Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2000 4:27 AM
To: EquineCushings@...
Subject: [EquineCushings] Digest Number 19

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 18:52:34 EDT
From: glorye@...
Subject: Diagnosis and Treatment

Dear Sally Mason,

While your recent post was very interesting and
conveyed your definite
opinions about Cushing's treatment, please realize
that others among us with
Cushingoid horses have benefited by using the very
same medications you
choose not to use. Indeed, I feel it was
Cyproheptadine and Isoxuprine,
working in conjunction, that saved my 19-year-old
Morgan gelding when he
foundered in January 1999.

I am an equine journalist with a background in the
medical field and market
research. As such, I have made it a point to read as
much about Cushing's as
I can lay my hands on. Yes, the disease is still
difficult to diagnose.
Scientists are working on more definitive tests
every day, and will
hopefully have one soon. There are many in the
veterinary field who choose
to treat horses by their symptoms at this time. If
the horse responds to
such treatment, I see no problem with doing that.
All I know is that my
horse, on the brink of death not long ago, gallops
around like a
two-year-old today and looks to have a long, happy,
useful life with careful
management.

As for the Cushing's study being conducted by ABC, I
have also investigated
that and found it sorely lacking and skewed on
several levels. However, if
it works for you, to each his own.

Please don't be so quick to condemn the methods of
others.

Paula Brown
Poland, ME

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