View source for Behaviour Modifying Drugs - Overview



Although many drugs are used to treat behavioural conditions in animals, there are only three psychoactive drugs specifically licensed for use in companion animals to treat behavioural problems. These are:

*'''[[Clomipramine]]''' (EU and USA license for the treatment of separation related problems in dogs).
*'''[[Selegiline]]''' (EU License for the treatment of behavioural problems with an emotional underlying origin).
*'''[[Fluoxetine]]''' (EU and USA license for the treatment of separation anxiety in dogs, when used in combination with behavioural therapy. Subsequently withdrawn from European market).

No psychoactive drugs are licensed for use in cats.
A range of other drugs are used to treat behavioural conditions, including beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, benzodiazepines, azapirones, anticonvulsants and triazolopyridines.
Some of these drugs are licensed for use in a companion animal species for another condition, but many are not licensed for use in any companion animal species. 
Examples are listed in the table below, however, most uses listed are unapproved, '''care should therefore be taken with their use''':


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Class of Drug !! Drugs !! Uses !! Side Effects
|-
| '''Tranquillisers''' || Acepromazine || Sedation/restraint (no specific indication in behavioural therapy) || Hypotension, CNS stimulation, contradictory responses, caution in boxers and greyhounds
|-
| '''Benzodiazepines '''|| Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Oxazepam || [[Feline Fear and Stress|Acute anxiety, panic, short-term management of noise phobias]]  || Hepatic necrosis after oral dosing in cats (potentially fatal), sedation, ataxia, increased appetite, paradoxical excitation, amnesia
|-
| '''Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)''' || Amitriptyline, [[Clomipramine]] || Anxiety, separation anxiety, canine and [[Feline Aggression|feline fear aggression]], [[Indoor Marking - Cat|feline urine marking]], [[Feline Grooming Disorders|feline compulsive grooming]], stereotypy, some narcoleptic disorders || Sedation, gastrointestinal (GI) effects, dry mouth, increased thirst, urinary retention
|-
| '''Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)''' || [[Fluoxetine]], Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline || [[Feline Aggression|Aggression]], canine separation anxiety, [[Feline Compulsive Disorders|compulsive disorders]], [[Indoor Marking - Cat|feline urine marking]] || Lethargy, inappetence, anorexia, GI effects
|-
| '''Beta Blockers''' || Propranolol || Situational anxiety, social anxiety, augmentation therapy for SRI/SSRIS drugs || Bradycardia, lethargy, hypotension, syncope
|-
| '''Azapirones''' || Busiprone || Anxiety, feline urine marking, interact aggression || Uncommon, not sedating
|-
| '''Triazolopyridines''' || Trazodone || Anxiety, phobia, separation anxiety, used primarily as an augmentation for other psychoactive drug therapies||
|-
| '''Anticonvulsants''' || Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide || Behavioural problems arising from focal seizures (e.g. aggression, tail chasing) || Lethargy, ataxia, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia
|-
| '''Glial Modulators''' || Propentofylline || Reduced activity in dogs (as an adjunct therapy for dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome) ||
|-
| '''Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAO-Is)''' || [[Selegiline]] || Canine and feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome, fear related problems, spraying, hyperactivity, compulsive/stereoptypical disorders, specific phobias || GI effects, restlessness or lethargy, anorexia
|}


Synthetic hormone analogues like megestrol acetate (Ovarid), have little or no rational use in behavioural therapy for reasons of non-specificity, and adverse effects which make their use unjustifiable. Phenothiazines such as ACP have a very varied level of effect and duration of action and affect both normal and abnormal behaviours without significantly altering emotional state, which is an out of date approach to behavioural therapy<ref>Overall, K.L., 2004. Paradigms for pharmacologic use as a treatment component in feline behavioral medicine. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 6, 29-42.</ref>. 

Licensed drugs have established data about their efficacy, side effects, contraindications and toxicity, which makes expected outcomes more reliable<ref>Merck Veterinary Manual (10th Edition) - [http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/behavior.html Behaviour]. 2011 The Merck Publishing Group.</ref>. Their use is supported by one or more controlled studies.