Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gabapentin and alprazolam reduce anxiety and cause sedation in cats
By Papageorgiou, Virginia et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2024·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Orally administered gabapentin and alprazolam induce comparable levels of anxiolysis and sedation in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Sixty female cats were given either gabapentin or alprazolam before surgery to see which medication helped reduce anxiety and sedation levels. Both medications worked similarly well in calming the cats and reducing their stress compared to those who received no medication at all. The cats treated with either gabapentin or alprazolam were less stressed and more sedated than those who didn't receive any treatment. This means that both medications can be effective options for helping cats feel more relaxed before procedures like spaying.
People also search for: cat anxiety medication · gabapentin for cats · alprazolam for cat sedation
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of anxiolysis achieved by alprazolam and gabapentin in hospitalized cats prior to elective ovariohysterectomy and to evaluate the sedative effects of these agents. ANIMALS: 60 client-owned female cats classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1, admitted for elective ovariohysterectomy at a veterinary teaching hospital. METHODS: The cats were prospectively and randomly allocated into 3 groups. Ninety minutes before evaluation, group G received gabapentin (100 mg/cat), group A received alprazolam (0.125 mg/cat), and group P received no medication (placebo). Stress, enclosure activity, and sedation scores were blindly evaluated. RESULTS: Stress scores were similar in cats treated with gabapentin and alprazolam and gabapentin-treated cats had significantly lower stress score than those of the placebo group. Enclosure activity levels did not differ among the groups. Additionally, gabapentin and alprazolam resulted in similar sedation levels 90 minutes after treatment, which differed significantly compared to placebo. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study suggest that gabapentin provides similar anxiolysis in cats to that of alprazolam when evaluated 90 minutes after administration. Although no difference was noted in sedation levels between gabapentin and alprazolam, both induced deeper sedation than placebo.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38503044/