{"id":631351,"date":"2025-02-11T15:55:54","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T20:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631351"},"modified":"2025-02-11T15:55:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T20:55:54","slug":"pregabalin-for-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/pregabalin-for-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Pregabalin for cats: Uses, dosage, and side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pregabalin<\/span><\/a> is a generic prescription that veterinarians primarily use to alleviate anxiety and fear when cats are transported or facing a veterinary visit. Less commonly, veterinarians use pregabalin to treat chronic pain or seizure disorders in cats. Pregabalin is a drug very similar to <\/span>gabapentin<\/span><\/a>, another antiseizure drug often used for chronic pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: Save up to 80% on <\/b>pregabalin<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is pregabalin used for in cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pregabalin is an <\/span>anticonvulsant<\/span><\/a> that veterinarians primarily use as an <\/span>anxiolytic<\/span><\/a> (anxiety medication) in cats and sometimes as an <\/span>analgesic<\/span><\/a> (pain reliever). As an anxiety medication, pregabalin is FDA approved in cats for the alleviation of situational anxiety, particularly travel anxiety or veterinary visits. Veterinarians may also use pregabalin off-label to relieve chronic pain or prevent seizures, but they prefer to use other medications for these problems. For these problems, pregabalin is a viable choice as a standalone or add-on treatment when other medications don\u2019t work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety<\/span><\/h3>\n

The FDA has approved Bonqat, a liquid version of pregabalin, to treat cat anxiety provoked by travel or veterinary visits. Veterinarians may prescribe regular pregabalin capsules off-label for the same purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregabalin relieves feline anxiety by slowing down and weakening nerve signals. It accomplishes this by reducing neurotransmitter concentrations at the junctures between nerves. This mechanism of action also relieves nerve pain (neuropathies) or prevents seizures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caregivers will administer one oral dose about one and a half hours before travel or a visit to a veterinary clinic. Most cats will require just one dose, but a second dose can be given the next day if the cat is still traveling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chronic pain<\/span><\/h3>\n

Pregabalin is not a veterinarian\u2019s first choice as a chronic pain reliever. <\/span>Opioids<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs<\/span><\/a> are typically the first pain relievers veterinarians use in cats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both gabapentin and pregabalin are used in people to treat chronic neuropathic pain like back pain. In veterinary medicine, pregabalin is primarily used to treat chronic osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Unfortunately, <\/span>there is no evidence<\/span><\/a> that either gabapentin or pregabalin is effective at treating chronic pain in cats, so veterinarians are less likely to rely on the drug.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seizure disorders<\/span><\/h3>\n

A seizure is a short-lived neurologic problem in which multiple nerve pathways fire at the same time. Some seizures are mild, like temporarily \u201cblanking out,\u201d and some may be severe, involving loss of consciousness and convulsions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When seizures happen frequently, veterinarians diagnose the cat with a seizure disorder. About <\/span>16 in 10,000<\/span><\/a> cats are diagnosed with a seizure disorder, but many cats go undiagnosed.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many types of seizure disorders based on where in the brain the seizure occurs and what happens during a seizure. Veterinarians use medications called anticonvulsants to reduce the frequency of recurrent seizures. Some drugs can treat most seizure disorders, while others work best at preventing some types.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes time to start a drug, veterinarians use just one drug (monotherapy) in order to minimize side effects. If that one drug doesn\u2019t work at controlling seizures, veterinarians add another anticonvulsant to the mix.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregabalin is one such add-on or \u201cadjuvant\u201d treatment for refractory seizures in cats. However, it\u2019s not at the top of the list because it hasn\u2019t been proven effective in cats. Cats will typically use other drugs\u2014including gabapentin\u2014as add-on treatments first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is pregabalin safe for cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Veterinarians consider pregabalin safe for healthy cats. Side effects are minimal. The most common problems cats experience are tiredness and coordination problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregabalin is not safe for any cat that has had an allergic reaction to pregabalin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians are cautious about using pregabalin in cats with kidney problems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects of pregabalin in cats<\/span><\/h3>\n

In clinical trials<\/span><\/a>, the most commonly reported side effects of pregabalin in cats were:<\/span><\/p>\n