Acepromazine

Acepromazine is a prescription medication used to tranquilize animals during examinations, treatments, or surgical procedures. It is also used to reduce itching and control vomiting due to motion sickness. Acepromazine is rarely used in humans.

Acepromazine belongs to a group of drugs called phenothiazines. These work by blocking the action of several receptors in the brain. 

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein, a muscle, or under the skin by a healthcare professional. It is also available as a tablet to be given by mouth. Acepromazine may be taken with food to avoid stomach upset.

Common side effects of acepromazine in animals include aggression, biting or chewing, and nervousness.

Acepromazine may cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how acepromazine affects you.

Acepromazine is a prescription medication used to treat the following:

• Difficult to control animals during examination, treatment, grooming, transportation, or minor surgical produres
• Itching as a result of skin irritation
• Vomiting due to motion sickness

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. 

Acepromazine may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• AceproJect

• Promace

Serious side effects have bene reported with acepromazine. See the "Acepromazine Precautions" section.

Common side effects of acepromazine in animals include the following:

• aggression
• biting or chewing
• nervousness

Acepromazine may cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how acepromazine affects you.

This is not a complete list of acepromazine side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• procaine (Novocaine)
• donepezil (Aricept)
• galantamine (Razadyne)
• alcohol

This is not a complete list of acepromazine drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with acepromazine, including the following:

• prolonged depression or sedation
• aggression
• biting or chewing
• nervousness

Do not take acepromazine if you:

• are allergic to acepromazine or any of its ingredients
• are using procaine (Novocaine)

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of acepromazine, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking acepromazine, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to acepromazine or any of its ingredients
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X - are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Since acepromazine is rarely used in humans, it has not been categorized by the FDA. Caution should be used when acepromazine is administered to a pregnancy woman, and the risks and benefits of administration should be considered by the healthcare provider and the woman.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if acepromazine crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with the use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risks of using acepromazine.

Take acepromazine exactly as prescribed.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein, a muscle, or under the skin by a healthcare professional. It is also available as a tablet to be given by mouth. Acepromazine may be taken with food to avoid stomach upset.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take 2 doses of acepromazine at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight

If you take too much acepromazine, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If acepromazine if administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store acepromazine at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.