engleski

GABA pharmacology in veterinary medicine: from anesthesia to phobias treatment

As in human medicine, numerous substances that potentiate the effect of GABA on GABA-A receptors are commonly used in veterinary medicine. The indications for the use of GABA positive allosteric modulators, among them benzodiazepines and barbiturates, in animals are very similar to those in humans. Benzodiazepines are clinically used as anticonvulsants, behavioral modifiers, premedicaments, anesthesia inducers and adjuvants in neuroleptanalgesia. Barbiturates are used as anesthetics, anticonvulsants and as euthanasia agents. Sometimes these drugs are administered in combination, mostly for anesthesia or for behavior modification, e.g. for thunderstorm phobia in dogs. Although neither the FDA nor the EMA have approved benzodiazepines for the use in animals, their clinical use in veterinary medicine is increasing, especially for various behavioral disorders. Due to their closeness to humans, companion animals, such as dogs and cats, are frequently diagnosed for separation anxiety, depression and various displacement and self-directed behaviors, which is followed by increased prescription and use of benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates are considered valuable in veterinary practice, but one must always take into consideration their species-specific pharmacological properties, with the emphasis on adverse reactions and side effects: short-term memory and learning impairment, ataxia, lethargy, somnolence, addiction, paradoxical excitement, anxiety, aggression, excessive vocalization, sleep disturbances, transient apnea, and respiratory and cardiovascular depression. Moreover, it should be noted that severe untoward effects are described within literature, e.g. idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity has been reported following diazepam administration in cats as well as during phenobarbital treatment in dogs.

GABA ; benzodiazepines ; barbiturates ; animal ; veterinary medicine

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