Clomipramine

Generic Name of Clomipramine: Clomipramine

Indications for Clomipramine

Clomipramine is used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders in dogs such as tail chasing, excessive grooming, acral lick dermatitis, and separation anxiety like destructiveness, excessive vocalization, loss of toilet control etc. For cats, the drug is used to treat urine spraying in sterilized and female cats.

Precautions when using Clomipramine

Certain precautions must be taken while the pet is being treated with Clomipramine. Animals suffering from liver impairment should be cautiously monitored with suitable blood tests while under medication. Clomipramine also has the possibility to interact with different kinds of medications including cimetidine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and antithyroid medication. The most commonly found effects of clomipramine are inappetance (not eating enough), sedation and increased heart rate.

Side Effects of Clomipramine

Clomipramine can cause numerous “anticholinergic” side effects. Anticholinergic side effects occur when Clomipramine restricts the involuntary functions caused by the neurotransmitter “acetylcholine.” Clomipramine should not be used to treat animals, which have hypersensitivity or allergy to the drug. The medicine should be used with extreme care in animals suffering from seizure disorder. Clomipramine should not be prescribed for animals having slow gastrointestinal tracts, heart rhythm abnormalities or cardiac arrhythmias and glaucoma (elevated pressure in the eye).

Dosage for Clomipramine

Do consult the veterinarian before administering the medication. The usual canine dose of clomipramine is 1 to 1.5 mg per pound (2 to 3 mg/kg) twice daily. The feline dose of clomipramine is 0.25 to 0.5 mg per pound (0.5 to 1 mg/kg) once daily.

Brand Names of Clomipramine

Anafranil, Apo-clomipramine, Clopress, Clomicalm.