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Pharmacology
Systemic Pharmacotherapeutics of the Nervous System
Tranquilizers, Sedatives, and Analgesics
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Topics in Systemic Pharmacotherapeutics of the Nervous System
  • Overview of Systemic Pharmacotherapeutics of the Nervous System
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Anticonvulsants Used to Stop Ongoing Seizure Activity
  • Maintenance Anticonvulsant Therapy
  • Tranquilizers, Sedatives, and Analgesics
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    Tranquilizers, Sedatives, and Analgesics

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    Tranquilization reduces anxiety and induces a sense of tranquility without drowsiness. Drug-induced sedation has a more profound effect and produces drowsiness and hypnosis. Analgesia is the reduction of pain, which according to a drug's effect, may be more pronounced in either the viscera or the musculoskeletal system (see Pain Assessment and Management). Many drugs cannot be categorized by only one pharmacologic effect, ie, as tranquilizers, sedatives, or analgesics. For example, many psychotropic drugs can either tranquilize or sedate according to the dose administered, and many sedatives are also analgesics. Also, drugs classified as tranquilizers, sedatives, and/or analgesics may have additional effects (eg, behavioral modification, antiemesis).

    For drugs commonly used in various species for tranquilization, sedation, or analgesia, see Systemic Pharmacotherapeutics of the Nervous System: Tranquilizers and Sedatives without Analgesic EffectsTables and see Systemic Pharmacotherapeutics of the Nervous System: AnalgesicsTables. Drugs that have some of these effects but are used mainly for other properties (eg, as anti-spasmodics, antiemetics, or preanesthetics) are not listed. Single-use doses are emphasized because many situations require only a brief duration of effect, but frequency of administration is also provided for drugs likely to be used for multiple-dose therapy. The dosages listed serve only as a general guideline and apply to the use of each drug alone, not to a combination for anesthesia or neuroleptanalgesia. No reference is made to schedule restrictions, extra-label use, or precautions in the use of these drugs; the product label and referenced texts should be consulted for information on the pharmacology and alternative applications of each drug.

    Table 3

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    Tranquilizers and Sedatives without Analgesic Effects

    Dosage

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Drug

    Dogs

    Cats

    Ferrets

    Rabbits

    Horses

    Cattle

    Pigs

    Benzodiazepines

    Diazepam

    1 mg/kg, IV or PO

    1 mg/kg, IV

    2 mg/kg, IM

    1–5 mg/kg, IV, IM; 2–10 mg/kg, IM or IP

    0.05–0.4 mg/kg, IV

    0.5–1.5 mg/kg, IV

    0.5–10 mg/kg, IM; 0.5–1.5 mg/kg, IV

    Midazolam

    0.2–0.4 mg/kg IV, IM

    0.2–0.4 mg/kg IV, IM

    2 mg/kg, IM or IV

    Butyrophenone

    Azaperone

    0.4–0.8 mg/kg, IM

    2.2 mg/kg, IM

    Phenothiazines

    Acepromazine maleate

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC; 0.55–2.2 mg/kg, PO, tid-qid

    0.11–0.22 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC; 1.1–2.2 mg/kg, PO, bid-tid

    0.1–0.25 mg/kg, IM or SC

    1–5 mg/kg, IM

    0.04–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, SC, or PO, sid

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    Chlorpromazine hydrochloride

    0.55–4.4 mg/kg, IV; 1.1–6.6 mg/kg, IM; 3.2 mg/kg, PO, tid-qid as needed

    1–2 mg/kg, IV or IM, bid

    3 mg/kg, IV or IM (may produce myositis)

    0.5–4.0 mg/kg, IM

    Promazine hydrochloride

    2–6 mg/kg, IV, IM, or PO, tid-qid

    2–4.4 mg/kg, IV, IM, or PO, tid-qid

    0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM; 1–2 mg/kg, PO

    0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM; 1.6–2.8 mg/kg, PO

    0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM

    Triflupromazine hydrochloride

    1.1–2.2 mg/kg, IV; 2.2–4.4 mg/kg, IM

    4.4–8.8 mg/kg, IM

    0.22–0.33 mg/kg, IV or IM (maximum 100 mg/horse/day)

    Tranquilizers and Sedatives without Analgesic Effects

    Dosage

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Drug

    Dogs

    Cats

    Ferrets

    Rabbits

    Horses

    Cattle

    Pigs

    Benzodiazepines

    Diazepam

    1 mg/kg, IV or PO

    1 mg/kg, IV

    2 mg/kg, IM

    1–5 mg/kg, IV, IM; 2–10 mg/kg, IM or IP

    0.05–0.4 mg/kg, IV

    0.5–1.5 mg/kg, IV

    0.5–10 mg/kg, IM; 0.5–1.5 mg/kg, IV

    Midazolam

    0.2–0.4 mg/kg IV, IM

    0.2–0.4 mg/kg IV, IM

    2 mg/kg, IM or IV

    Butyrophenone

    Azaperone

    0.4–0.8 mg/kg, IM

    2.2 mg/kg, IM

    Phenothiazines

    Acepromazine maleate

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC; 0.55–2.2 mg/kg, PO, tid-qid

    0.11–0.22 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC; 1.1–2.2 mg/kg, PO, bid-tid

    0.1–0.25 mg/kg, IM or SC

    1–5 mg/kg, IM

    0.04–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, SC, or PO, sid

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    Chlorpromazine hydrochloride

    0.55–4.4 mg/kg, IV; 1.1–6.6 mg/kg, IM; 3.2 mg/kg, PO, tid-qid as needed

    1–2 mg/kg, IV or IM, bid

    3 mg/kg, IV or IM (may produce myositis)

    0.5–4.0 mg/kg, IM

    Promazine hydrochloride

    2–6 mg/kg, IV, IM, or PO, tid-qid

    2–4.4 mg/kg, IV, IM, or PO, tid-qid

    0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM; 1–2 mg/kg, PO

    0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM; 1.6–2.8 mg/kg, PO

    0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM

    Triflupromazine hydrochloride

    1.1–2.2 mg/kg, IV; 2.2–4.4 mg/kg, IM

    4.4–8.8 mg/kg, IM

    0.22–0.33 mg/kg, IV or IM (maximum 100 mg/horse/day)

    Table 4

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    Analgesics

    Dosage

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Drug

    Dogs

    Cats

    Ferrets

    Rabbits

    Horses

    Cattle

    Pigs

    Opioid Analgesics a

    Buprenorphine

    0.01–0.02 mg/kg, SC, bid

    0.005–0.01 mg/kg, SC or IM, bid

    0.01–0.03 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC, bid-tid

    0.02–0.05 mg/kg, SC, IM, or IV, bid

    0.005–0.02 mg/kg, IM or IV, bid-qid

    Butorphanol tartrate

    0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IM or SC; 0.55 mg/kg, PO, every 6–12 hr

    0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IV; 0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 4 hr

    0.05–0.4 mg/kg, IM, every 4–6 hr

    0.1–0.5 mg/kg, IV, every 4 hr

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    Adult: 20–30 mg, IV, jugular

    0.1–0.3 mg/kg, IM

    Medetomidine

    0.002–0.03 mg/kg, IM, IV, or SC

    0.002–0.03 mg/kg, IM, IV, or SC

    Meperidine hydrochloride

    2–10 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 2 hr

    2–5 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 2 hr

    2–5 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 2–4 hr

    5–10 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 2–3 hr

    0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IV; 1–3 mg/kg, IM or SC

    500 mg/cow, IV slowly, IM or SC

    1–2 mg/kg, IM or IV

    Morphine sulfate

    0.22–0.88 mg/kg, IM, IV slowly, or SC, every 4–6 hr as needed

    0.1 mg/kg, IM or SC, as needed

    0.5–5 mg/kg, IM or SC, qid

    2–5 mg/kg, SC or IM, every 2–4 hr

    0.2 mg/kg, IV; 0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IM

    0.2–1 mg/kg, IM, every 4 hr

    Nalbuphine

    0.5–2.0 mg/kg, SC, every 4–8 hr

    1.5–3.0 mg/kg, IV, every 3 hr

    1–2 mg/kg, IV, every 4 hr

    Oxymorphone hydrochloride

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC, every 1–3 hr

    0.025–0.05 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    0.05–0.2 mg/kg, IV or IM, bid-qid

    0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IM, every 2–4 hr

    0.02–0.03 mg/kg, IV or IM

    0.075 mg/kg, IM

    Pentazocine lactate

    2–3 mg/kg, IM, every 4 hr; 15 mg/kg, PO, tid

    5–10 mg/kg, SC or IM every 4 hr

    10–20 mg/kg, SC or IM, every 4 hr; 5 mg/kg, IV, every 2–4 hr

    0.33 mg/kg, IV

    2–5 mg/kg, IM, every 4 hr

    Nonopioid Sedative Analgesics

    Xylazine hydrochloride

    0.5–1 mg/kg, IV; 1–2 mg/kg, IM or SC

    0.5–1 mg/kg, IV; 1–2 mg/kg, IM or SC

    1 mg/kg, IM or SC

    0.1–1 mg/kg, IV; 0.5–1.0 mg/kg, IM or SC

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV; 0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IM

    2 mg/kg, IM

    Detomidine

    0.02–0.04 mg/kg, IV or IM

    Nonpsychotropic Analgesics

    Acetaminophen

    15 mg/kg, PO, qid as needed

    Contraindicated

    Aspirin

    10–25 mg/kg, PO, bid

    10 mg/kg, PO, every 48 hr

    0.5–20 mg/kg, PO, sid-tid

    5–20 mg/kg, PO, sid

    30–47.5 mg/kg, PO, bid-qid

    26 mg/kg, IV; 100–124 mg/kg, PO, bid

    10–20 mg/kg, PO, every 4 hr as needed

    Carprofen

    4 mg/kg, IV or SC, sid

    4 mg/kg, IV or SC, sid

    1.5 mg/kg, PO, bid

    0.7 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC, sid

    0.7 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC, sid

    Dipyrone

    28 mg/kg, IV, IM, SC, or PO, tid

    28 mg/kg IV, IM, SC, or PO, tid

    5–10 g/horse, IV or IM, tid as needed

    50 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    50 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    Flunixin meglumine

    1–2 mg/kg, PO, IV, or IM, sid up to 3 days

    1 mg/kg, PO; 0.3–1 mg/kg, IM or SC, sid up to 5 days

    0.5–2 mg/kg, SC, sid-bid

    1.1 mg/kg, SC or IM, bid

    1–2.2 mg/kg, IV; 2.2 mg/kg, IM or PO, sid

    1.1–2.2 mg/kg, IM or PO, sid-tid

    1–2 mg/kg, IV or IM, sid

    Ibuprofen

    5–10 mg/kg, PO, sid-bid

    5 mg/kg, PO, sid

    10–20 mg/kg, IV, every 4 hr

    Indomethacin

    10 mg/kg, PO, sid

    10 mg/kg, IV or PO, every 4 hr

    1.5 mg/kg, sid

    Ketoprofen

    2 mg/kg, SC, IM, or IV, sid up to 3 days; 1 mg/kg, PO, sid up to 5 days

    1 mg/kg, sid, SC up to 3 days, or PO up to 5 days

    3 mg/kg, IM

    2.2 mg/kg, IV, sid

    2.2 mg/kg, IV; 3 mg/kg, IM, sid

    Meclofenamic acid

    2.2 mg/kg, PO, sid

    2.2 mg/kg, PO, sid

    2.2 mg/kg, PO, sid

    Naproxen

    5 mg/kg, PO, initial dose; 1.2–2.8 mg/kg, PO, sid for maintenance

    5 mg/kg, IV; 10 mg/kg, PO, bid

    Phenylbutazone

    22 mg/kg, PO; 15 mg/kg, IV, tid (maximum 0.8 g/dog/day)

    15 mg/kg, IV, tid; 10–14 mg/kg, PO, bid

    4.4 mg/kg, PO, bid on day 1; 2.2 mg/kg, PO, bid for 4 days; 2.2 mg/kg, PO, sid or every other day

    2–5 mg/kg, IV; 4–8 mg/kg, PO

    2–5 mg/kg, IV; 4–8 mg/kg, PO

    a Recommended dosages of opiates may produce excitement in cats and horses.

    Analgesics

    Dosage

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Drug

    Dogs

    Cats

    Ferrets

    Rabbits

    Horses

    Cattle

    Pigs

    Opioid Analgesics a

    Buprenorphine

    0.01–0.02 mg/kg, SC, bid

    0.005–0.01 mg/kg, SC or IM, bid

    0.01–0.03 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC, bid-tid

    0.02–0.05 mg/kg, SC, IM, or IV, bid

    0.005–0.02 mg/kg, IM or IV, bid-qid

    Butorphanol tartrate

    0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IM or SC; 0.55 mg/kg, PO, every 6–12 hr

    0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IV; 0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 4 hr

    0.05–0.4 mg/kg, IM, every 4–6 hr

    0.1–0.5 mg/kg, IV, every 4 hr

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    Adult: 20–30 mg, IV, jugular

    0.1–0.3 mg/kg, IM

    Medetomidine

    0.002–0.03 mg/kg, IM, IV, or SC

    0.002–0.03 mg/kg, IM, IV, or SC

    Meperidine hydrochloride

    2–10 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 2 hr

    2–5 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 2 hr

    2–5 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 2–4 hr

    5–10 mg/kg, IM or SC, every 2–3 hr

    0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IV; 1–3 mg/kg, IM or SC

    500 mg/cow, IV slowly, IM or SC

    1–2 mg/kg, IM or IV

    Morphine sulfate

    0.22–0.88 mg/kg, IM, IV slowly, or SC, every 4–6 hr as needed

    0.1 mg/kg, IM or SC, as needed

    0.5–5 mg/kg, IM or SC, qid

    2–5 mg/kg, SC or IM, every 2–4 hr

    0.2 mg/kg, IV; 0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IM

    0.2–1 mg/kg, IM, every 4 hr

    Nalbuphine

    0.5–2.0 mg/kg, SC, every 4–8 hr

    1.5–3.0 mg/kg, IV, every 3 hr

    1–2 mg/kg, IV, every 4 hr

    Oxymorphone hydrochloride

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC, every 1–3 hr

    0.025–0.05 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    0.05–0.2 mg/kg, IV or IM, bid-qid

    0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IM, every 2–4 hr

    0.02–0.03 mg/kg, IV or IM

    0.075 mg/kg, IM

    Pentazocine lactate

    2–3 mg/kg, IM, every 4 hr; 15 mg/kg, PO, tid

    5–10 mg/kg, SC or IM every 4 hr

    10–20 mg/kg, SC or IM, every 4 hr; 5 mg/kg, IV, every 2–4 hr

    0.33 mg/kg, IV

    2–5 mg/kg, IM, every 4 hr

    Nonopioid Sedative Analgesics

    Xylazine hydrochloride

    0.5–1 mg/kg, IV; 1–2 mg/kg, IM or SC

    0.5–1 mg/kg, IV; 1–2 mg/kg, IM or SC

    1 mg/kg, IM or SC

    0.1–1 mg/kg, IV; 0.5–1.0 mg/kg, IM or SC

    0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV; 0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IM

    2 mg/kg, IM

    Detomidine

    0.02–0.04 mg/kg, IV or IM

    Nonpsychotropic Analgesics

    Acetaminophen

    15 mg/kg, PO, qid as needed

    Contraindicated

    Aspirin

    10–25 mg/kg, PO, bid

    10 mg/kg, PO, every 48 hr

    0.5–20 mg/kg, PO, sid-tid

    5–20 mg/kg, PO, sid

    30–47.5 mg/kg, PO, bid-qid

    26 mg/kg, IV; 100–124 mg/kg, PO, bid

    10–20 mg/kg, PO, every 4 hr as needed

    Carprofen

    4 mg/kg, IV or SC, sid

    4 mg/kg, IV or SC, sid

    1.5 mg/kg, PO, bid

    0.7 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC, sid

    0.7 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC, sid

    Dipyrone

    28 mg/kg, IV, IM, SC, or PO, tid

    28 mg/kg IV, IM, SC, or PO, tid

    5–10 g/horse, IV or IM, tid as needed

    50 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    50 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

    Flunixin meglumine

    1–2 mg/kg, PO, IV, or IM, sid up to 3 days

    1 mg/kg, PO; 0.3–1 mg/kg, IM or SC, sid up to 5 days

    0.5–2 mg/kg, SC, sid-bid

    1.1 mg/kg, SC or IM, bid

    1–2.2 mg/kg, IV; 2.2 mg/kg, IM or PO, sid

    1.1–2.2 mg/kg, IM or PO, sid-tid

    1–2 mg/kg, IV or IM, sid

    Ibuprofen

    5–10 mg/kg, PO, sid-bid

    5 mg/kg, PO, sid

    10–20 mg/kg, IV, every 4 hr

    Indomethacin

    10 mg/kg, PO, sid

    10 mg/kg, IV or PO, every 4 hr

    1.5 mg/kg, sid

    Ketoprofen

    2 mg/kg, SC, IM, or IV, sid up to 3 days; 1 mg/kg, PO, sid up to 5 days

    1 mg/kg, sid, SC up to 3 days, or PO up to 5 days

    3 mg/kg, IM

    2.2 mg/kg, IV, sid

    2.2 mg/kg, IV; 3 mg/kg, IM, sid

    Meclofenamic acid

    2.2 mg/kg, PO, sid

    2.2 mg/kg, PO, sid

    2.2 mg/kg, PO, sid

    Naproxen

    5 mg/kg, PO, initial dose; 1.2–2.8 mg/kg, PO, sid for maintenance

    5 mg/kg, IV; 10 mg/kg, PO, bid

    Phenylbutazone

    22 mg/kg, PO; 15 mg/kg, IV, tid (maximum 0.8 g/dog/day)

    15 mg/kg, IV, tid; 10–14 mg/kg, PO, bid

    4.4 mg/kg, PO, bid on day 1; 2.2 mg/kg, PO, bid for 4 days; 2.2 mg/kg, PO, sid or every other day

    2–5 mg/kg, IV; 4–8 mg/kg, PO

    2–5 mg/kg, IV; 4–8 mg/kg, PO

    a Recommended dosages of opiates may produce excitement in cats and horses.

    Last full review/revision March 2012 by Linda Shell, DVM, DACVIM-Neurology

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