Oral benzodiazepines

Oral Benzodiazepines for Dogs & Cats

Oral benzodiazepines, including clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), and clonazepam (Klonopin), are sedatives that help manage anxiety and treat seizures. Veterinary teams also occasionally use these medications to facilitate bladder expression in pets with spinal cord injuries.

Veterinarians commonly prescribe oral benzodiazepines for pets experiencing cluster seizures. A veterinary team may recommend starting the medication after a seizure and giving it every eight hours until a pet has been seizure-free for a full 24 hours. Always follow the prescription label for exact dosing instructions.

Oral Benzodiazepines Dosing & Administration

Oral benzodiazepines are best used on an emergency or short-term basis. When a pet receives daily dosing over a prolonged period, the body can become accustomed to the medication, which can reduce effectiveness.

It’s important to inform a veterinarian if a pet needs this medication for more than five consecutive days or more than one treatment course per month.

Missed Doses & Changing Medications

If your pet misses a dose of an oral benzodiazepine, give it as soon as you remember, as long as it’s more than four hours until the next scheduled dose. If less than four hours remain until the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule with the next dose.

Contact your pet’s veterinary team before making changes to an oral benzodiazepine plan.

Monitoring & Lab Work

A liver panel is recommended before using these medications as part of your pet’s monitoring plan. Your veterinary team can explain why this test is recommended for your pet and when to repeat it.

No specific long-term monitoring is necessary when benzodiazepines are used as short-term therapy. However, in the rare instance that this medication is used for seizure control in cats, liver panels are recommended every three to six months.

Potential Side Effects of Oral Benzodiazepines

The most common side effect is sedation, which can be excessive in some pets, particularly those who are less tolerant or when combined with other medications. Pets may appear dizzy or have trouble walking. If sedation becomes severe, skip the next dose and contact a veterinarian to discuss reducing the dosage.

This medication may cause hunger, especially in cats.

Use in cats may also lead to serious liver problems. Although this side effect is rare, it can be fatal. For that reason, use caution when administering this medication to feline patients.

Special Precautions for Oral Benzodiazepines

Keep benzodiazepines out of reach of pets and small children. Overdosing can cause serious respiratory depression and may necessitate emergency medical intervention.

Oral Benzodiazepines FAQs

  • Oral benzodiazepines are sedatives that help manage anxiety and treat seizures. Veterinary teams also occasionally use these medications to facilitate bladder expression in pets with spinal cord injuries.

  • Veterinarians commonly prescribe these medications for pets experiencing cluster seizures. A veterinary team may recommend starting the medication after a seizure and giving it every eight hours until a pet has been seizure-free for a full 24 hours. Always follow the prescription label for exact dosing instructions.

  • Oral benzodiazepines are best used on an emergency or short-term basis. When a pet receives daily dosing over a prolonged period, the body can become accustomed to the medication, which can reduce effectiveness. It’s important to inform a veterinarian if a pet needs this medication for more than five consecutive days or more than one treatment course per month.

  • If your pet misses a dose of an oral benzodiazepine, give it as soon as you remember, as long as it’s more than four hours until the next scheduled dose. If less than four hours remain until the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume the regular schedule with the next dose.

  • A liver panel is recommended before using these medications. No specific long-term monitoring is necessary when benzodiazepines are used as short-term therapy. However, in the rare instance that this medication is used for seizure control in cats, liver panels are recommended every three to six months.

  • Sedation is the most common side effect, and pets may appear dizzy or have trouble walking, especially in less tolerant patients or when combined with other medications. This medication may also cause hunger, especially in cats. In cats, use may lead to serious liver problems, and although rare, this side effect can be fatal, so benzodiazepines should be used with caution in feline patients.