Doxapram

• CNS stimulant
• Goal: resp analeptic
• Uses
  • Arouse animals from anesthetic OD
  • neonatal apnea syndrome
• Adverse effect= Can precipitate seizures in susceptible animals
• Disadvantage = depth of anesthesia is reduce - - but is only transient and non-specific

Methylxanthines

• CNS stimulant
• Goal = Brochodilator
• Uses=
  
  • mild diuretic
  • resp mm. stimulant
  • smooth mm. relaxation
• Mechanism of action
  • phosphodiesterase inhibition = accumulation of cAMP
  • reversible blockage of adenosine receptor
• Adverse effects = CNS excitement, seizures, restlessness, GI disruption, cardiac dysrhythmia
• Examples = Theophylline, caffeine, theobromine
  

Benzodiazepines

• Goal = decrease anxiety
• Uses = decreases anxiety, fear, aggression and noise phobia
• Mechanism of action
  • Enhancement of GABA-ergic neurotransmission via GAGB-A receptors => hyperpolarization via enhancement of GABA mediated chloride conductance
• Location of action = cerebral cortex, limbic system, thalamus
• General considerations
  • Lack of specificity
  • DOSE dependeent (high dose= hyponotic)
• Adverse effects = can cause addiction (need to wean off); possible liver failure
  

Diaxepam

• Benzodiazepine (Anxiolytic)
• Uses = treatment of anxiety and urine spraying in cats
• Adverse effects = HEPATIC NECROSIS IN CATS!
  • Do NOT use with CYP450 metabolizing drugs
    

Alprazolam

• Benzodiazepine (Anxiolytic)
• Uses = treatment of ACUTE fear situations (panic disorders in dogs)
• Adverse effects = Physicaly dependence (need slow withdrawal)
  
  • Do NOT use with CYP450 metabolizing drugs

Oxazepram

• Benzodiazepine (Anxiolytic)
• Uses = appetite stimulation
  
  • CAN be used in patients with compromised liver function
    

Lorazepam

• Benzodiazepine (Anxiolytic)
• Uses = treatment of intercat aggression
• General considerations
  • Slower onset of action w/ sustained release
    

Buspriones

• Azapirone (Anxiolytic)
• Uses = treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and intercat aggression
  • **Selective anxiolytic with NO sedating effects
• Mechanism of action = acts as a partial agonist at 5-HT1A receptors
• Location of action = dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), and synaptic terminals
  • Also has an affinity for DAD2 receptors
• Advantages
  • NO sedating effects
  • NOT associated with dependences
• Drug interactions = do NOT use with MAOIs (hypertensive crisis)