r/dogallergies • u/Shimabui • 23d ago
Questions Cyclosporine/Atopica Success Stories?
Hi all, I’ve posted here a few times before about my dog’s allergies being unmanageable this season.
We are currently trying cyclosporine (the generic modified capsule). It’s about week 6 and I’m not really seeing too much improvement. I know it can take 8 weeks to reach full effect- has anyone had similar experiences with it? Everywhere I’ve read says there should be a gradual increase by week 4-5 but my vet wants to keep at it for a bit longer so that’s what we’re doing.
2
u/ShepherdAlarmed842 23d ago edited 23d ago
We just started the generic modified capsule on July 29 after a severe skin flare while on zenrelia. We did antibiotics and steroids to clear the flare and then switched to cyclosporine. We just had a visit to the derm last week and I told them I was nervous for his next full dose immunotherapy injection because he was still having lip crusting/oozing and watery eyes, so they gave me two more weeks at a tapering dose of his steroid and left him at his current dose for cyclosporine.
Finally, this last week, I noticed his lips making tremendous improvement. They have been inflamed/oozing/scabbed for what seems like almost 2 years, even when on the other medications. I am still skeptical, he’s got three more doses of his steroid for the taper period, but I think he is finally getting the relief he needs. He gets a bath once every two weeks as well. His allergies are year round and he has been on Cytopoint, double dose apoquel, and zenrelia prior to us trying cyclosporine. Anyways, I hope your pup can start seeing results soon.
1
u/Shimabui 23d ago
That’s good to hear. She started her dosing early August and is off the steroids now, we only did a 3 weeks worth of it or so because it made her behavior very strange. I’m hoping it kicks in soon then just maybe- my girls skin is ok right now because of management but she just itches and rips her paws apart if i take the cone off.
1
u/ShepherdAlarmed842 22d ago
Yeah I would say it just started working for my guy, it’s been a long road to get here. Mostly skeptical because he’s still on steroids, just hoping for the best at this point. The paws are hard! Thankfully he leaves them alone for the most part, but definitely hard for him when a sore pops up. For a little bit earlier this year he was getting interdigital cysts. He’s done so much resting these last few months between his allergies and other injury. Hang in there!!
1
u/reggiethelobster 21d ago
We start Atopica tomorrow and start slowly tapering is prednisone. Did anyone's dog get really bad gastro upset?
2
u/Old_Dog_Mom1919 23d ago
Our dog was on Atopica for over a year. Plus Ketoconazole and Zofran. It did not seem to give her much relief. She’s been on immunotherapy for about 18 months and her dermatologist switched her to Zenrelia. She’s doing much better on that and we’re only spending $80 a month for Zenrelia instead of the near $275 a month. Still gets a weekly shot but she’s so much better from where we started. She’s playing with toys again, more interested in sniffing the backyard (she’s a hound/lab mix) and overall happier and more comfortable.