Hi X,
Sorry to hear you having problems with the right adrenal gland.  Yes you
can give melatonin and Lupron at the same time.  At this years Exotic Pet
Conference at Texas A&M, they actually suggested using both at the same
time.  I recommend 1mg/kg orally about 8-9 hours after sunrise.  This
helps to stimulate "winter like" photoperiods (ie 15-16 hours of darkness)
which lowers GnRH, LH, and FSH levels.  Which in turn stops the
stimulation to the adrenal gland via the LH receptors.  The folks at A&M
are using just 0.5mg/ferret once a day orally.  Their dose is based on the
University of Wisconsin study (Paul-Murphy,J and O'Brien R.  Melatonin use
in ferret adrenal gland disease.  Proceedings of North American Veterinary
Conference, 2001, Orlando, FL, page 897).  Yes, you can use melatonin
tablets or capsules or have a pharmacy mix it with a flavored liquid to
make a suspension.  The big side effect with melatonin is lethargy for the
first couple of days.  The good news is it is a low cost medication that
does seem to help.  Yes there is also a mink melatonin injectable implant
that slowly releases it over a 4 month time period.  Hopefully they will
an absorbable melatonin implant for ferrets soon.
 
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
PS as for the itchy skin you can use Relief Shampoo with Resisoothe or
Resicort conditioner weekly.  You can also add Omega-3 fish oil (3V Skin
Caps liquid) to the food.  The itchy skin should resolve once the adrenal
gland disease is under control.
[Posted in FML issue 3631]