A new medicine for cats designed to alleviate acute anxiety and fear associated with veterinary visits has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November.
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The Bonqat is the first FDA-approved animal medicine containing pregabalin, which is used in human medicine as an anticonvulsant and to treat neural pain.
The medicine is administered orally in a single dose of 5 mg/kg (0.1 mL/kg) approximately an hour and a half before a trip or veterinary appointment and can be given for two consecutive days, according to an FDA announcement on November 17.
Orion Corp., a Finnish pharmaceutical company, conducted a field study with cats with a history of anxiety, including two separate visits over five to 10 days, as well as repetitive transportation and physical exams for each cat.
A little over half of the cats that received Bonqat had a good to excellent response during transportation and the veterinary visit, compared to about a third of the cats that received a placebo, according to the FDA.
Additionally, 77% of the cats that received Bonqat showed improvement in fear and anxiety levels over the two physical exams, compared to 46% of cats that received a placebo. Adverse reactions related to Bonqat included mild sedation, ataxia, and lethargy.
Bonqat is only available by prescription from a licensed veterinarian because it is a Class V substance under the Controlled Substances Act with the potential for human abuse.
Furthermore, professional expertise is required to monitor the safe use of the product, including proper dosage and administration.
According to the FDA, appropriate precautions should be taken when handling Bonqat, including avoiding contact with a person’s skin, eyes, and other mucous membranes.
Individuals exposed to pregabalin should seek medical advice and may experience dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, weakness, dry mouth, and difficulty concentrating or paying attention.
