Fortekor Substitute

[Lally]

My girl has been taking Vetmedin and Fortekor for 12 months now, and whereas I begrudge not one cent, the cost of these meds has been astronomical. I've gone to some trouble to lighten the costs and recently discovered a substitute for Fortekor.

After research, I found that another AEC inhibitor, ENALAPRIL MALEATE, was regularly prescribed for dogs in the US and available for humans in Australia. I discussed this with my local pharmacist who discussed it with her vet who endorsed its use in canines. I then asked my excellent vet to write a prescription, which she did.

The upshot is that I now have a packet of 10mg x 30 tablets which cost $22.70. As my girl is taking 5mg per day, we have two months' supply. Compare this with approx. $60 per month for Fortekor. Enalapril is available in packs of 5mg; 10mg and 20mg.

I also discovered that Vetmedin (pimobendan) is nearing the end of its patent exclusivity and that from next year onwards we can reasonably expect generics on the market, which is good news. I was seriously annoyed to learn that Vetmedin is $100 cheaper in the US and Canada and given our currency's exchange rate the cost to Australian consumers should be decreasing, not forever marching upwards.

As I've often read and heard of dog owners struggling to afford essential medications for their beloved dogs, I thought that this might be of some help.

[animalia]

I once looked after a cav at a boarding kennel I used to work for, this dog was also on fortekor and vetmedin twice a day. The owner seeked out an alternative and ended up putting in a pace maker in the dog at the Werribee specialty vet, I think it cost around $800 but the dog went off the meds

[bonny_beagle]

Same is true for ramipril, another ACE inhibitor, comes in various strengths, similar cost depending on strength. It's worth phoning around for costs as vet scripts are classes as private so prices can vary more between pharmacies than they would for people scripts.

It's also cheaper to get a script for 3 months supply and only pay one dispense fee

e.g. 22.70 would be wholesale + markup (much smaller than vet markup) + dispense fee (maybe $7) for 30

approx 54.10 for 3 boxes ($18.03 per box)

Being a vet script means you can have as many repeats as you want as well e.g. 10 repeats.

[Inevitablue]

Whilst not as cheap as going down the human pharma path, there is the generic ACE inhibitor called VetACE, manufactured by Jurox.

You could also ask your vet to order some benazapril from BOVA - a compounding supplier.

Incidentally, are you guys using frusemide (diuretic) with the Fortekor/Vetmedin combination?

[Lally]

Whilst not as cheap as going down the human pharma path, there is the generic ACE inhibitor called VetACE, manufactured by Jurox.

You could also ask your vet to order some benazapril from BOVA - a compounding supplier.

Incidentally, are you guys using frusemide (diuretic) with the Fortekor/Vetmedin combination?

Yes, my girl is on frusemide as well as ACEs and Vetmedin. However, she shares mine, which are identical to what she was prescribed and cost very little.

I discussed all of these drugs with my vet, a wonderful and helpful woman who, with her veterinarian husband owns a very large practice. She explained to me why they dispensed Fortekor (didn't want to keep lot of different drugs for the same purpose - their mark-up is the same on all drugs) but she was genuinely surprised to learn that Vetmedin is $100 cheaper in the US. I asked her why vets don't do more to challenge the profiteering practices of some drug companies, and I guess that it's a matter of time. She is a large animal specialist and frequently operates on horses and cattle as they have a purpose-built surgery (only ones left in our area) in addition to the small animal practice, combined with being the mother of three young children.

Thanks for the information about BOVA. Benazapril forms the basis of most of these ACE inhibitors, but I'll stick with the human drugs from now on. They are so relatively cheap and there's not going to be a problem with supply in future.

Over the last 12 months these meds have cost me thousands of dollars - our insurer declines to subsidise any more. However, without doubt, they have made a huge difference to my girl's life - the fact that she's still alive, to her vet's astonishment and my delight, is its own recommendation on the efficacy of these drugs.

I'll ask about the pacemaker, too, but Purdy has MVD and an enormously enlarged heart: I think that she's beyond surgical intervention.

[OSoSwift]

I will look into this as our old Stafford is on Fortekor as well. I will check out his dose and then compare prices. COuld help me save quite a bit. Thank you very much

[LisaZ]

Hellou,

 

could someone please help me with recomended dosage for Fortekor substitute ENALAPRIL MALEATE? My dog is currently taking 20mg/day.

 

Thanks a lot.

[persephone]

1 hour ago, LisaZ said:

Hellou,

 

could someone please help me with recomended dosage for Fortekor substitute ENALAPRIL MALEATE? My dog is currently taking 20mg/day.

 

Thanks a lot.

maybe phone your vet ?