title: Antinociceptive effects of tramadol and acepromazine in cats.
abstract: Effects of tramadol and acepromazine on pressure and thermal thresholds were examined in eight cats. After baseline measurements, subcutaneous (SC) tramadol 1 mg/kg, acepromazine 0.1 mg/kg, tramadol 1 mg/kg with acepromazine 0.1 mg/kg, or saline 0.3 ml were given. Serial measurements were made for 24 h. Mean thermal thresholds did not change significantly [analysis of variance (ANOVA)] from baseline. The maximum thermal threshold increase above baseline was 2.8+/-2.8 degrees C at 6 h (P>0.05) after tramadol; it was above the 95% confidence interval (CI) at 0.75, 3 and 6 h. Pressure thresholds increased above baseline from 0.25 to 2 h after acepromazine (P<0.05) and from 0.5 to 3 h after the combination (P<0.05), with a maximum increase of 132+/-156 mmHg 0.25 h after acepromazine and 197+/-129 mmHg 0.5 h after the combination. Pressure thresholds were above the 95% CI from 0.25 to 2 h after acepromazine and from 0.5 to 3 h after the combination. SC tramadol at 1 mg/kg in cats had limited effect on thermal and pressure nociception, but this was enhanced by acepromazine. Acepromazine alone had pressure antinociceptive effects.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo V M
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Steagall
authors.forename: Polly M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Juliana T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brondani
authors.forename: Stelio P L
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000075:Acepromazine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002415:Cats; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D011312:Pressure; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D014147:Tramadol; D000075:Acepromazine