Acepromazine is a prescription veterinary medication used to calm cats prior to surgery or nail trimming or to induce sleep during travel. Despite its effectiveness as a sedative, acepromazine poses a risk of side effects in some cats.
Types of Side Effects
The most common side effects of acepromazine in cats are drops in blood pressure, slow breathing and decreased heart rate. It is also common for acepromazine to turn your cat's urine pink or to make its third eyelid visible, which can be an alarming sight but is not dangerous.
Time Frame
The side effects of acepromazine usually last for six to eight hours after treatment with the drug, according to VeterinaryPartner.com.
Drug Interactions
Rarely, acepromazine causes a fatal interaction with general anesthetics used during surgery in cats, reports Wedgewood Pharmacy.
Risks
In some pets, acepromazine causes severe aggression. There is an increased risk of harmful side effects when acepromazine is given to cats who are traveling in hot conditions, such as in the cargo area of an airplane, and some veterinarians do not prescribe the drug for such purposes as a result.
Considerations
If your cat has a medical history of anemia, liver or heart disease, epilepsy or tetanus infections, it may not be safe for it to receive acepromazine, cautions Wedgewood pharmacy. Additionally, the drug is not normally used to treat pregnant or nursing cats.
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