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Gabapentin is a medication used to treat pain in cats. It is also used as a sedative to help reduce anxiety during stressful situations, like car travel and vet visits. Here’s what you need to know about this common feline medication. What is gabapentin for cats, and how does it work? Gabapentin and amantadine are used as part of analgesic protocols for chronic pain relief in dogs and cats. This article describes the types of pain, the reasons why chronic pain can be difficult to treat, and the use of gabapentin and amantadine for treatment of chronic pain. Gabapentin has been documented to be efficacious as an analgesic in cats where NSAID administration is not possible. Gabapentin has various mechanisms of action including regulation of calcium channel currents in the dorsal root ganglion as well as actions on serotonin. It is also an effective anxiolytic in cats. In smaller cats, other methods of providing analgesia should be sought as it is not recommended to cut patches in half and covering half of the patch gives unpredictable results. The decay in plasma levels following patch removal is slow. Adapted from: Lascelles D. Relief of chronic pain in cats and dogs: multimodal drug therapy. Studies were carried out around 40 years ago, giving pain relief (analgesia) to cats recovering from routine spaying operations. The cats that received pain relief were quicker to wake up from anesthesia, quicker to return to normal interactive behavior, and quicker to start eating again, compared to cats that received no pain relief. Reported doses for orally administered gabapentin in cats are approximately 10 to 20 mg/kg PO Q 8 H, although these doses are extrapolated from pharmacokinetic studies and case reports. 19,22,24,25 The doses recommended for analgesia above are likely to result in sedation; anecdotally, gabapentin can be started at lower doses and slowly ment options centered on preemptive, multimodal analgesic therapies. There is an extensive variety of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapeutic options for the management of acute and chronic pain in cats and dogs. The guidelines In cats, gabapentin is most often used as a pain medication for chronic pain, such as from arthritis. Gabapentin is also recognized as beneficial in reducing the fear responses that a kitty may have to the stress of handling and being examined at the vet. Gabapentin is used in cats to manage chronic pain, control seizures, and reduce anxiety, especially during vet visits. The dosage varies, typically ranging from 1.5 to 5 mg per pound for pain relief, 2.5 to 5 mg per pound for seizures, and 20 mg/kg for anxiety before vet visits. There is limited information on the use of gabapentin for acute pain management. 35,55,164 In one study, gabapentin (50 mg, PO, administered 12 h and 1 h before surgery) in combination with buprenorphine produced similar postoperative analgesia when compared with meloxicam and buprenorphine in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. 35 Further How much Gabapentin for Cats? According to pet experts and veterinarians, the safe dose of gabapentin for treating seizures in cats is 2-5mg/lb or 5-10mg/kg every 8 to 12 hours. For feline pain, the ideal amount of the medicine is 1.25 to 2 mg/kg every 12 hours. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant with analgesic properties that may be primarily derived by down-regulating calcium channels. 61 Because of its efficacy and tolerability, gabapentin is widely used in humans with neuropathic and other maladaptive pain conditions. 62 Along with published clinical case reports in animals, the data suggest a strong Furthermore, a standard best practice is to recognize and treat acute pain by providing analgesia during the perianesthesia period and upon presentation of a traumatic event. Dogs and Cats.1,2 The 2015 guidelines differ from the earlier version in several ways. The first sections are general concepts designed to ‘‘set the stage’’ for the remaining, more specific content. The 2015 guidelines also discuss the importance of an integrated approach to managing pain that does not rely strictly on analgesic drugs DEA Schedule II. Note delayed onset of analgesia (6–24 h) limits utility as an initial monotherapy for acute pain. Gabapentin. GABA b receptor agonist. Chronic. 3–10 mg/kg PO q 8–12 h. Not for epidural use. Not for IV use. Gabapentin is a reportable controlled substance in some states in the US. Hydromorphone. Opioid. Acute Gabapentin Anticonvulsant • 5–10 mg/kg PO Q 8–12 H Prednisolone Glucocorticoid• 0.5–1 mg/kg PO Q 24 H *Use of meloxicam oral suspension in cats is extra-label; †Approved for short-term use in cat≥.5 lb (2.5 kg) an≥ 6 months of age; §ISFM/AAFP Guidelines recommend administration up to 6 days
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