ACEPROMAZINE

- tranquilizer (phenothiazine)

Brands/Synonyms : PromAce

Indications

Dog

Premedication

0.01

mg/kg IV once

Dog

Premedication

0.05

mg/kg IV once

Dog

Antiemetic

0.05

mg/kg IM once

Dog

Airline flight sedative

0.5

mg/kg PO once

Cat

Urethral obstruction

0.25

mg/kg IM q 8h

Cat

Urethral obstruction

2.5

mg/CAT PO q 8h

Cat

Analgesia (mild, superficial)

0.1

mg/kg SC once

Cat

Tranquilization

0.1

mg/kg SC once

Cat

Analgesia (visceral)

0.05

Ineffective

mg/kg IV once

Therapeutics

Interactions : Potentiates effects of other CNS depressants

Antidote/Reversal Agent : For hypotension: circulatory volume expansion (IV fluid therapy) if needed; vasopressors (e.g., infusion of dopamine or phenylephrine)

Soundalike Alert : Apresoline – hydralazine, a vasodilator

Available Formulations

Inj

2, 10 mg/mL

Tab

10, 25 mg

Precautions

Contraindications

Organophosphate-induced tremors (acepromazine potentiates toxicity)

hypotension

systemic illness

hypersensitivity to the drug

Adverse Side Effects

Older patients may have excessively long duration of action (relative contraindication)

Caution with liver disease (prolonged/excessive effect)

Rare incidence of reverse sneezing

Rare mania/aggression

Mild hypotensive effects at 0.1 mg/kg SC, often accentuated if IV, older patients, or systemic illness

References

PubMed – 16822767

Pearls

Do not treat acepromazine-induced hypotension with epinephrine (furthers hypotension)

Effective premedication; mild decrease in blood pressure

Antiemetic effect: significant when given as premedication

Cortisol effects during transport stress: not minimized by acepromazine

Urethral obstruction nonintervention study shows effective relief of obstruction in 11/15 obstructed male cats

Urethral effects of acepromazine in cats are limited to preprostatic and prostatic urethra, but obstruction usually occurs in postprostatic urethra; therefore, benefit is likely due to sedation and not to direct urethral smooth muscle effects

Demonstrable mild antinociceptive effects

Given to 36 dogs with seizures; fewer seizures, challenging seizure-genic reputation