Psychopharmacology II - Event Meds: Indications, Doses, and Effects

Patients on daily psychotropic medications may still be in need of additional help to alleviate panic, fear and/or anxiety during predictable, situational events, as the daily medications may not be enough to control intense spike in stress levels. Other patients who display distress only as a result of known, predictable triggers, such as fireworks, car travel or thunderstorms, may benefit from an event medication alone. Event meds are given as such - 1-2 hours prior to the start of a known trigger, such as a loud noise event, veterinary visits, being home alone, riding in the car, being confined while unfamiliar guests visit, and so on. These medications typically last for several hours and have varying sedative effects. This lecture will give an overview of the main classes of drugs used for as needed treatment of predictable panic/fear triggers in dogs and cats - how they work, what the therapeutic expectations are for each, and what side effects may be expected. Drug interactions, adverse effects, and combination protocols will also be discussed.