Tranquilizer
Acepromazine Maleate Tablets and Injection is used in controlling intractable animals during
examination, treatment, grooming, x-ray and minor surgical procedures. Acepromazine is also commonly given as a preanesthetic agent. Acepromazine maleate has a depressant effect on the
central nervous system and therefore causes sedation, muscular relaxation
and a reduction in spontaneous activity.
Acepromazine Maleate Injection as a preanesthetic agent:
- Enhances and prolongs the
effects of barbiturates, thus reducing the requirements of general
anesthesia
- As an adjunct to surgery
under local anesthesia
Pharmacology:
Acepromazine maleate, a potent
neuroleptic agent with a low order of toxicity, is of particular value in
the tranquilization of dogs. Its rapid action and lack of hypnotic effect
are added advantages.
Acepromazine
maleate has a depressant effect on the central nervous system and therefore
causes sedation, muscular relaxation and a reduction in spontaneous
activity. It acts rapidly, exerting a prompt and pronounced calming effect.
It is an effective preanesthetic agent and lowers the dosage requirement of
general anesthetics.
Dosage and
Administration:
Injection: ACEPROMAZINE
MALEATE INJECTION is a sterile solution which may be given intravenously,
intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The dosage should be individualized,
depending upon the degree of tranquilization required. As a general rule,
the dosage requirement in mg/lb of body weight decreases as the weight of
the animal increases. The following schedule may be used as a guide to
intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injections:
Dogs: 0.25-0.5 mg per lb. of
body weight.
Intravenous doses should be
administered slowly, and a period of at least 15 minutes should be allowed
for the drug to take full effect.
Tablets: The dosage should be
individualized, depending upon the degree of tranquilization required. As a
general rule, the dosage requirement in mg/lb of body weight decreases as
the weight of the animal increases.
Dogs: 0.25-1.0 mg/lb. of body
weight.
Contraindication:
Phenothiazines may potentiate
the toxicity of organophosphates. Therefore, do not use acepromazine maleate
to control tremors associated with organic phosphate poisoning.
Do not use in conjunction with
organophosphorus vermifuges or ectoparasiticides, including flea collars.
Do not use with procaine
hydrochloride.
Caution:
Federal law restricts this
drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
Tranquilizers are potent
central nervous system depressants, and they can cause marked sedation with
suppression of the sympathetic nervous system.
Tranquilizers can produce
prolonged depression or motor restlessness when given in excessive amounts
or when given to sensitive animals.
Tranquilizers are additive in
action to the actions of other depressants and will potentiate general
anesthesia. Tranquilizers should be administered in smaller doses and with
greater care during general anesthesia and also to animals exhibiting
symptoms of stress, debilitation, cardiac disease, sympathetic blockage,
hypovolemia or shock. Acepromazine, like other phenothiazine derivatives, is
detoxified in the liver; therefore, it should be used with caution on
animals with a previous history of liver dysfunction or leukopenia.
Hypotension can occur after
rapid intravenous injection causing cardiovascular collapse.
Epinephrine is contraindicated
for the treatment of acute hypotension produced by phenothiazine-derivative
tranquilizers since further depression of blood pressure can occur.
Phenothiazines should be used
with caution when followed by epidural anesthetic procedures because they
may potentiate the arterial hypotensive effects of local anesthetics.
Federal law prohibits the use
of this product in animals intended for human consumption.
Toxicology:
Acute and chronic toxicity studies have shown a very low order of
toxicity for acepromazine maleate.
Side Effects:
A safety study using elevated dosages of ACEPROMAZINE MALEATE INJECTION
demonstrated no adverse reactions even when administered at three times the
upper limit of the recommended daily dosage (1.5 mg/lb body weight). The
clinical observation for this high dosage was mild depression which
disappeared in most dogs 24 hours after termination of dosing.
The only occurrence of adverse
reaction during numerous clinical trials was a very mild respiratory
distress (reverse sneeze) which was transient in nature and had no effect on
the desired action of the drug.
When administered
intramuscularly, acepromazine maleate causes a brief sensation of stinging
comparable with that observed with other phenothiazine tranquilizers.
Active
Ingredient:
- Acepromazine Injection: Acepromazine maleate 10 mg/ml
- Acepromazine Tablet: 10 mg or 25 mg
