Description

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.

Dogs and Cats: Acepromazine Maleate Injection can be used as an aid in controlling intractable animals during examination, treatment, grooming, x-ray and minor surgical procedures; to alleviate itching as a result of skin irritation; as an antiemetic to control vomiting associated with motion sickness. Acepromazine Maleate Injection is particularly useful as a preanesthetic agent (1) to enhance and prolong the effects of barbiturates, thus reducing the requirements for general anesthesia; (2) as an adjunct to surgery under local anesthesia.

Horses: Acepromazine Maleate Injection can be used as an aid in controlling fractious animals during examination, treatment, loading and transportation. Particularly useful when used in conjunction with local anesthesia for firing, castration, neurectomy, removal of skin tumors, ocular surgery and applying casts.

Manufacturer may vary from product shown.

Prescription items are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.

Administration and Dosage:
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. Acepromazine Maleate Injection may be given intravenously, intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The following schedule may be used as a guide to IV, IM or SC injections:

Dogs: 0.25-0.5 mg/lb of body weight.
Cats: 0.5-1 mg/lb of body weight.
Horses: 2-4 mg/100 lb of body weight.

IV doses should be administered slowly, and a period of at least 15 minutes should be allowed for the drug to take full effect.

Contraindications:
Phenothiazines may potentiate the toxicity of organophosphates and the activity of procaine hydrochloride. Therefore, do not use Acepromazine Maleate Injection 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.

Warning:
Not for use in animals intended for food.

Precautions:
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 blockade, hypovolemia or shock. Acepromazine maleate, like other phenothiazine derivatives, is detoxified in the liver; therefore, it should be used with caution in animals with a previous history of liver dysfunction or leukopenia.

Hypotension can occur after rapid intravenous injection causing cardiovascular collapse. Epinephrine is contraindicated for treatment of acute hypotension produced by phenothiazine-derivative tranquilizers since further depression of blood pressure can occur. Other pressor amines, such as norepinephrine or phenylephrine, are the drugs of choice.

In horses, paralysis of the retractor penis muscle has been associated with the use of phenothiazine-derivative tranquilizers. Such cases have occurred following the use of Acepromazine Maleate Injection. This risk should be duly considered prior to the administration to male horses (castrated and uncastrated). When given, the dosage should be carefully limited to the minimum necessary for the desired effect. At the time of tranquilization, it is not possible to differentiate between reversible protrusion of the penis (a normal clinical sign of narcosis) and the irreversible paralysis of the retractor muscle. The cause of this side reaction has not been determined. It has been postulated that such paralysis may occur when a tranquilizer is used in conjunction with testosterone (or in stallions).

Accidental intracarotid injection in horses can produce clinical signs ranging from disorientation to convulsive seizures and death.

Cautions:
A few rare but serious occurrences of idiosyncratic reactions to Acepromazine may occur in dogs following oral or parenteral administration. These potentially serious adverse reactions include behavioral disorders in dogs such as aggression, biting/chewing, and nervousness.