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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:

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)

*'''[[Clomipramine]]''' (EU and USA license for the treatment of separation related problems in dogs).

*Selegiline (licensed in the dog for treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome)

*'''[[Selegiline]]''' (EU License for the treatment of behavioural problems with an emotional underlying origin).

*Fluoxetine (licensed in the dog in the USA for treatment of separation anxiety)

*'''[[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 Subsequently withdrawn from European market).

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 all 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:

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="wikitable"

|-

|-

! Class of Drug !! Drugs

! Class of Drug !! Drugs !! Uses !! Side Effects

|-

|-

| Tranquilizers || Acepromazine

| '''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

| '''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 || Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine

| '''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 || Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline

| '''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

| '''Beta Blockers''' || Propranolol || Situational anxiety, social anxiety, augmentation therapy for SRI/SSRIS drugs || Bradycardia, lethargy, hypotension, syncope

|-

|-

| Azapirones || Busiprone

| '''Azapirones''' || Busiprone || Anxiety, feline urine marking, interact aggression || Uncommon, not sedating

|-

|-

| Triazolopyridines || Trazodone

| '''Triazolopyridines''' || Trazodone || Anxiety, phobia, separation anxiety, used primarily as an augmentation for other psychoactive drug therapies||

|-

|-

| Anticonvulsants || Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide

| '''Anticonvulsants''' || Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Levetiracetam, Phenobarbital, Potassium bromide || Behavioural problems arising from focal seizures (e.g. aggression, tail chasing) || Lethargy, ataxia, polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia

|-

|-

| Hormones || Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Megestrol acetate

| '''Glial Modulators''' || Propentofylline || Reduced activity in dogs (as an adjunct therapy for dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome) ||

|-

|-

| Glial Modulators || Propentofylline

| '''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

|-

| Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors || Selegiline

|}

|}

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.

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.

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)

|date = September 9, 2014

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[[Category:To Do - Behaviour GGP]]

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[[Category:Pharmacological Approach to Problem Behaviour]]