Difference between revisions of "Behaviour Modifying Drugs - Overview"

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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:
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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).
+
*[[Clomipramine]] (licensed in the dog for treatment of separation anxiety)
*'''[[Selegiline]]''' (EU License for the treatment of behavioural problems with an emotional underlying origin).
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*[[Selegiline]] (licensed in the dog for treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome)
*'''[[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 Subsequently withdrawn from European market).
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*[[Fluoxetine]] (licensed in the dog in the USA for treatment of separation anxiety)
  
No psychoactive drugs are licensed for use in cats.
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Several other drugs are often used to treat behavioural conditions, such as propranolol, phenobarbitone, diazepam and various other common veterinary drugs, however these are not licensed for this purpose.
A range of other drugs are used to treat behavioural conditions, including beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, benzodiazepines, azapirones, anticonvulsants and triazolopyridines.
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In addition many other drugs are used in behavioural medicine but most are unlicensed for use in any animal species. Examples are listed in the table below, however most uses listed are unapproved, care should therefore be taken with their use:
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''':
 
  
  
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! Class of Drug !! Drugs !! Uses !! Side Effects
 
! 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
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| Tranquilizers || Acepromazine || Sedation/restraint || 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
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| Benzodiazepines || Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Oxazepam || Anxiety, noise phobias, canine submissive urination, feline urine marking || Sedation, ataxia, increased appetite, paradoxical excitation
 
|-
 
|-
| '''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
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| Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) || Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine || Anxiety, separation anxiety, canine and feline fear aggression, feline urine marking, feline compulsive grooming, canine stereotypy || 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
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| Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) || Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline || Aggression, canine separation anxiety, compulsive disorders, 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
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| Beta Blockers || Propranolol || Canine fear aggression, noise phobia || Bradycardia, lethargy, hypotension, syncope
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Azapirones''' || Busiprone || Anxiety, feline urine marking, interact aggression || Uncommon, not sedating
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| Azapirones || Busiprone || Phobia, 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||
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| Triazolopyridines || Trazodone || ||
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Anticonvulsants''' || Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide || Behavioural problems arising from focal seizures (e.g. aggression, tail chasing) || Lethargy, ataxia, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia
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| Anticonvulsants || Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide || Canine and feline compulsive tail chasing, unprovoked canine rage aggression || Lethargy, ataxia, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia
 
|-
 
|-
| '''Glial Modulators''' || Propentofylline || Reduced activity in dogs (as an adjunct therapy for dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome) ||
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| Hormones || Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Megestrol acetate || Last resort for aggression and feline urine marking || Polyphagia, polydipsia, sedation, diabete mellitus, pyometra, mammary hyperplasia, endometrial hyperplasia, carcinoma
 
|-
 
|-
| '''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
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| Glial Modulators || Propentofylline || ||
 +
|-
 +
| Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors || Selegiline || Canine and feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome, fear related problems, spraying, hyperactivity, compulsive/stereoptypical disorders || 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>.  
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Benzodiazepines are the only class of drug that consistently succeed in all models, but this may be why they have a dangerous disinhibitory effect on aggression. These drugs eliminate avoidant responses to many kinds of aversive events, increasing confidence in a number of exploratory tests. This is why benzodiazepines can cause dangerous levels of disinhibition in aggressive dogs. Benzodiazepines also inhibit memory formation by affecting NMDA (glutamate) receptors in the hippocampus, which limits their usefulness in behavioural therapy where any kind of learning is required, which is in most situations. They are useful for memory blocking if given at sub-sedative doses prior to or during a predicted traumatic event such as a thunderstorm.
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 +
 
  
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.
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Drugs such as Acepromazine (ACP) and 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.
  
==References==
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The first port of call when using medication for behavioural problems should be drugs licensed for veterinary use. These drugs have established data about their efficacy, side effects, contraindications and toxicity which makes expected outcomes more reliable. (Merck)
<references/>
 
<br><br>
 
{{Jon Bowen reviewed
 
|date = September 9, 2014
 
}}
 
  
{{Ceva}}
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{{unfinished}}
{{OpenPages}}
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[[Category:To Do - Behaviour GGP]]
[[Category:Pharmacological Approach to Problem Behaviour]]
 

Revision as of 17:53, 27 May 2014


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 (licensed in the dog for treatment of separation anxiety)
  • Selegiline (licensed in the dog for treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome)
  • Fluoxetine (licensed in the dog in the USA for treatment of separation anxiety)

Several other drugs are often used to treat behavioural conditions, such as propranolol, phenobarbitone, diazepam and various other common veterinary drugs, however these are not licensed for this purpose. In addition many other drugs are used in behavioural medicine but most are unlicensed for use in any animal species. Examples are listed in the table below, however most uses listed are unapproved, care should therefore be taken with their use:


Class of Drug Drugs Uses Side Effects
Tranquilizers Acepromazine Sedation/restraint Hypotension, CNS stimulation, contradictory responses. Caution in boxers and greyhounds
Benzodiazepines Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Lorazepam, Oxazepam Anxiety, noise phobias, canine submissive urination, feline urine marking Sedation, ataxia, increased appetite, paradoxical excitation
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine Anxiety, separation anxiety, canine and feline fear aggression, feline urine marking, feline compulsive grooming, canine stereotypy Sedation, gastrointestinal (GI) effects, dry mouth, increased thirst, urinary retention
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline Aggression, canine separation anxiety, compulsive disorders, feline urine marking Lethargy, inappetence, anorexia, GI effects
Beta Blockers Propranolol Canine fear aggression, noise phobia Bradycardia, lethargy, hypotension, syncope
Azapirones Busiprone Phobia, anxiety, feline urine marking, interact aggression Uncommon, not sedating
Triazolopyridines Trazodone
Anticonvulsants Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide Canine and feline compulsive tail chasing, unprovoked canine rage aggression Lethargy, ataxia, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia
Hormones Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Megestrol acetate Last resort for aggression and feline urine marking Polyphagia, polydipsia, sedation, diabete mellitus, pyometra, mammary hyperplasia, endometrial hyperplasia, carcinoma
Glial Modulators Propentofylline
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors Selegiline Canine and feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome, fear related problems, spraying, hyperactivity, compulsive/stereoptypical disorders GI effects, restlessness or lethargy, anorexia


Benzodiazepines are the only class of drug that consistently succeed in all models, but this may be why they have a dangerous disinhibitory effect on aggression. These drugs eliminate avoidant responses to many kinds of aversive events, increasing confidence in a number of exploratory tests. This is why benzodiazepines can cause dangerous levels of disinhibition in aggressive dogs. Benzodiazepines also inhibit memory formation by affecting NMDA (glutamate) receptors in the hippocampus, which limits their usefulness in behavioural therapy where any kind of learning is required, which is in most situations. They are useful for memory blocking if given at sub-sedative doses prior to or during a predicted traumatic event such as a thunderstorm.


Drugs such as Acepromazine (ACP) and 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.

The first port of call when using medication for behavioural problems should be drugs licensed for veterinary use. These drugs have established data about their efficacy, side effects, contraindications and toxicity which makes expected outcomes more reliable. (Merck)