Acepromazine
Description: Acepromazine is a phenothiazine derivative used for its sedative and calming effects. It also has anticholinergic actions including dry mouth and potential urinary retention.
Uses: Acepromazine is used as a sedative or calming agent for aggressive animals, during transport, to prevent self-mutilation, and other similar issues. It is commonly used in dogs, cats and horses. Dosing is also available for ferrets, rabbits, rodents and pocket pets.
Precautions: Acepromazine should not be used in animals with a known allergy to the drug. It should be used with caution preoperatively as a lower dosage of anesthetic is generally required. Dosage should be reduced in animals with liver impairment or cardiac disease. The product should be used cautiously in dogs and cats during pregnancy, and avoided near-term if possible.
Drug Interactions: Avoid using acepromazine for at least one month after worming with an organophosphate agent. Other central nervous system (CNS) depressants will cause additive CNS depression. Should not be given at the same time as antacids or antidiarrheal mixtures such as kaolin/pectin or bismuth preparations.
Storage Considerations: Product should be stored in tight, light resistant containers at room temperature. Refrigeration is recommended for oral suspensions.
Amlodipine
Description: Amlodipine is a calcium channel-blocking agent. It reduces the transfer of calcium across cell membranes in smooth muscle, resulting in blood vessel dilation.
Uses: Oral amlodipine is very effective for the treatment of high blood pressure in cats. It is less commonly used in dogs.
Precautions: Amlodipine should not be used in animals with a known allergy to the drug. It should be used with caution in animals with heart or liver disease.
Drug Interactions/Side Effects: There are no published drug interactions for this product. Amlodipine should be used with caution with any other products that reduce blood pressure.
Storage Considerations: Amlodipine should be stored in tight, light resistant containers at room temperature. Refrigeration is recommended for oral suspensions.
Cisapride
Description: Cisapride is a prokinetic agent, promoting the passage of food through the gut. It increases lower esophageal contractions and sphincter pressure and accelerates gastric emptying.
Uses: Cisapride can be used to treat esophageal reflux and primary gastric stasis. It is also useful for the treatment of constipation and gastric megacolon in cats of all ages. It is not available commercially and must be compounded. Dosing is available for dogs, cats and horses.
Precautions: Cisapride should not be used in animals with a known allergy to the drug, or with those for which accelerated gastric emptying may be harmful such as perforated bowel disease. It should be used with caution in pregnant or nursing animals.
Drug Interactions/Side Effects: Cisapride is generally well tolerated. It may be associated with occasional gastrointestinal upset or diarrhea which can be minimized by giving with food.
Because cisapride can decrease transit times of food and medications through the gut, it may reduce the absorption of other drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges such as blood thinners. Cimetidine may increase serum concentrations of cisapride, and cisapride may increase the absorption of cimetidine, thereby enhancing the effects of each. Dosage of each should be reduced accordingly.
Storage Considerations: Cisapride should be stored in tight, light resistant containers at room temperature. Refrigeration is recommended for oral suspensions.
Clomipramine
Description: Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant used for both its behavior modification and calming effects.
Uses: Clomipramine is used primarily in dogs for obsessive-compulsive disorder, dominance aggression and separation anxiety. It is also useful in cats for urine marking or spraying as well as aggressive or compulsive behaviors. It generally must be compounded to an appropriate dose for cats. Dosing is available for both dogs and cats.
Precautions: Clomipramine should not be used in animals with a known allergy to any tricyclic antidepressant. It should be used with caution in pregnant or nursing animals or those with thyroid or seizure disorders. Liver function monitoring is recommended for long-term treatment.
Drug Interactions/Side Effects: Clomipramine is generally well tolerated, but can cause occasional stomach upset which can be minimized by giving it with food. Some sedation, dry mouth and other anticholinergic effects can also occur. It should be used with caution in combination with antithyroid agents due to the increased risk of agranulocytosis, and with cimetidine or sympathomimetics due to an increased risk of toxicity. It should generally be avoided within fourteen days of treatment with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, including selegiline or amitraz.
Storage Considerations: Clomipramine should be stored in tight, light resistant containers at room temperature. Refrigeration is recommended for oral suspensions.
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