Fluoxetine (Prozac) capsules, tablets, and liquid are usually taken once a day in the morning or twice a day in the morning and at noon.
Here are the most commonly prescribed
medications used to
treat dog anxiety.
Jump to a specific medication:
- Buspirone.
- Clomipramine (Clomicalm)
- Dexmedetomidine (Sileo)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Fluoxetine (Reconcile or Prozac)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
Canine AggressionFluoxetine is useful to treat aggression. The simple rule here is serotonin up, aggression down (vice versa is also true).
Starting Your Dog on Anti-Anxiety MedicationYour veterinarian is there to help you — and your dog — sort through all the options. Although humans and dogs share similar medications for anxiety and other conditions, you should never give your dog a human-prescribed drug without your veterinarian's approval.
If the Problem Is Mild …
- Give your dog a special treat each time you leave (like a puzzle toy stuffed with peanut butter).
- Make your comings and goings low-key without a lot of greeting.
- Leave some recently worn clothes out that smell like you.
- Consider giving your pet over-the-counter natural calming supplements.
9 Natural Remedies for Your Dog's Anxiety
- Exercise. Most of us know that exercise is a great stress reliever for humans and the same goes for dogs.
- Music.
- Aromatherapy.
- Thundershirt.
- Massage.
- Brushing & Grooming.
- Mental Stimulation/Distraction.
- Supplements.
You may see an improvement in your symptoms after 1 to 2 weeks, although it usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks before you feel the full benefits. That's because it takes around a week for fluoxetine levels to build up in your body, and then a few weeks longer for your body to adapt and get used to it.
Nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, tiredness, sweating, or yawning may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.
Missing doses of fluoxetine may increase your risk for relapse in your symptoms. Stopping fluoxetine abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin).
Restlessness and agitation are the most common presenting signs that I see, but signs can also include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, fever, tremors, sensitivity to sounds and noises, depression, dilated pupils, vocalization, blindness, drooling, difficulty breathing, difficulty walking, disorientation, coma, and rarely
In dogs maximum plasma levels for fluoxetine are reached in 1.8 hours and in 12 hours for the active metabolite norfluoxetine. Since clearance half-life is 6.2 hours for fluoxetine and 49 hours for norfluoxetine gradual weaning is not required.
Quitting Prozac doesn't have to be a nightmare. If you are worried about withdrawal, your doctor may recommend tapering your dose. When you taper your dose, by taking progressively smaller doses over a period of time, you can often prevent or reduce withdrawal symptoms.
In dogs, toxicity and possible death can be seen at doses of 100 mg/kg or more.
Fluoxetine Due to long half-life, tapering is usually not required; may reduce gradually over a minimum of 2 weeks if dose is ≥40 mg/d. Fluvoxamine Reduce gradually over at least 1–2 weeks; 50 mg every 5–7 days to final dose of 25–50 mg.
While Prozac is generally safe, you can overdose on it. This can lead to serious complications, and even death, if not treated right away. A typical dosage of Prozac is between 20 and 80 milligrams (mg) per day. Taking more than this without your doctor's recommendation can lead to an overdose.
| Antidepressant drugs and their half-lives* |
|---|
| Drug | Half out of body in | 99% out of body in |
|---|
| escitalopram (Lexapro) | 27 to 32 hours | 6.1 days |
| citalopram (Celexa) | 36 hours | 7.3 days |
| fluoxetine (Prozac) | Four to six days | 25 days |
For dogs exhibiting territorial aggression, you will need to gain enough control to have your dog sit, stay, and when calmed down, take a reward at the front door. Generally, a leash and head collar will give the fastest and most effective control (see Training Products – Head Halter Training).
However, there's no guarantee that an aggressive dog can be completely cured. In many cases, the only solution is to manage the problem by limiting a dog's exposure to the situations, people or things that trigger her aggression. There's always risk when dealing with an aggressive dog.
Common side effects may include:
- sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams;
- headache, dizziness, drowsiness, vision changes;
- tremors or shaking, feeling anxious or nervous;
- pain, weakness, yawning, tired feeling;
- upset stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- dry mouth, sweating, hot flashes;
Symptoms of Antidepressant DiscontinuationSymptoms of antidepressant withdrawal depend on the specific medication you have been taking. Symptoms most often occur within three days of stopping the antidepressant. They are usually mild and go away within about two weeks.
It can also be used to treat anxiety or as a muscle relaxant. Its use in cats and dogs to treat seizures and behavior problems is 'off label' or 'extra label'.
Fluoxetine can cause tiredness, stomach upset, anxiety, irritability and restlessness in some animals. The most common side effect in dogs is loss of appetite.
