Acepromazine

Acepromazine: Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Overview

It’s one of the Phenothiazines. It acts on the CNS and make depression, so It’s
causing sedation and a reduction in spontaneous activity.

Uses of Acepromazine 

• Sedation or pre-anesthetic medication
• Raises the threshold for cardiac arrhythmias
• Used for the management of thromboembolism in cats

Dose of Acepromazine in Dogs and Cats

Dogs:

0.01–0.02 mg/kg slowly i.v

0.01–0.05 mg/kg i.m., s.c

1–3 mg/kg p.o.

Cats:

0.01–0.02 mg/kg slowly I.v

0.01–0.05 mg/kg I.m., S.c

1–3 mg/kg P.o

Side Effects of Acepromazine in Dogs and Cats

Rarely, healthy animals may develop profound hypotension

Contraindications of Acepromazine in Dogs and Cats

• Hypotension
• In animals <3 months
• In animals with liver disease
• In Boxers, spontaneous fainting and syncope can occur, so use low doses or avoid

Some Notes:

• Antidiarrhoeal mixtures (e.g. kaolin/pectin, bismuth salicylate) and antacids may cause reduced GI absorption of oral phenothiazines.
• As phenothiazines block alpha-adrenergic receptors, concomitant use with adrenaline may lead to unopposed beta activity, thereby causing vasodilation and tachycardia.