Determination of the dosage of clomipramine for the treatment of urine spraying in cats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the optimal dosage of clomipramine for the treatment of urine spraying in cats.


METHODS
Randomized controlled multicenter clinical trial.


METHODS
67 neutered cats.


METHODS
Cats with a minimum 1-month history of spraying urine against vertical surfaces at least twice per week were randomly assigned to be treated with a placebo or with clomipramine at a dosage of 0.125 to 0.25 mg/kg (0.057 to 0.11 mg/lb), 0.25 to 0.5 mg/kg (0.11 to 0.23 mg/lb), or 0.5 to 1 mg/kg (0.23 to 0.45 mg/lb), p.o., every 24 hours for up to 12 weeks. Owners of all cats were given information on behavioral treatment and environmental modification.


RESULTS
Prior to treatment, mean number of urine spraying events ranged from 0.9 to 1.3 urine spraying events/d for the 4 groups, and mean percentage of days with urine spraying events ranged from 62% to 69%. All 3 dosages of clomipramine were associated with significant reductions in frequency of urine spraying. Sedation was the most common adverse effect and was identified in 27 of the 50 cats treated with clomipramine; however, treatment was not discontinued in any cat because of sedation.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of the present study suggest that compared with a placebo, clomipramine significantly reduces the frequency of urine spraying in cats in terms of the number of urine spraying events per day and the number of days with urine spraying events. For cats with urine spraying, the recommended initial dosage of clomipramine is 0.25 to 0.5 mg/kg, p.o., every 24 hours.
King
Jonathan N
JN
Novartis Animal Health Inc, Postfach CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland.
Steffan
Jean
J
Heath
Sarah E
SE
Simpson
Barbara S
BS
Crowell-Davis
Sharon L
SL
Harrington
Louise J M
LJ
Weiss
Alain-Bernard
AB
Seewald
Wolfgang
W
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002369:Castration / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
D002997:Clomipramine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors