Acepromazine (brand: PromAce) is a prescription sedative/tranquilizer in the phenothiazine class for cats. It is Rx-only.
Front-office snapshot: veterinarians commonly use acepromazine to help keep cats calm for veterinary exams, grooming, or minor procedures, and as part of pre-anesthesia/chemical restraint in the clinic. Expected effects include drowsiness; important risks include low blood pressure, and cats may produce fewer tears. If a cat collapses, is extremely weak, has very pale gums, or has trouble breathing, seek emergency care immediately. Your veterinarian can explain why it was chosen for your cat and what to expect.
Front desk script: Acepromazine—brand name PromAce—is a prescription sedative for cats in the phenothiazine tranquilizer family. We use it to help keep cats calm for exams, grooming, or minor procedures, and as part of pre-anesthesia in the clinic. It can make cats sleepy; rare but serious reactions include collapse or trouble breathing—if you see those, seek emergency care right away. Your veterinarian can discuss timing, what to expect, and whether this is the right option for your cat.
Common owner FAQs (front-desk quick answers):
- Q: How soon will it work and how long will my cat be sleepy? A: Most cats start getting drowsy within about 30–60 minutes, and the calming effect often lasts several hours; some residual grogginess can linger up to the rest of the day. Your veterinarian can discuss exact timing for your cat’s situation. [Source]
- Q: What side effects are normal? A: Sleepiness, wobbliness, and droopy-looking eyes are expected. Some cats make fewer tears, and urine may look pink to reddish‑brown—these usually resolve as the drug wears off. Rarely, cats can seem more agitated instead of sleepy. If you notice collapse, extreme weakness, very pale gums, trouble breathing, or your cat is unresponsive, seek emergency care immediately. [Source]
- Q: Does this help with pain or just calm my cat? A: Acepromazine is a sedative/tranquilizer; it does not relieve pain. Very excited or fearful behavior can sometimes override the calming effect. Your veterinarian can advise on other medications if pain or strong anxiety is a concern. [Source]
- Q: Can I give this with my cat’s other meds or supplements? A: Some drugs can interact with acepromazine (including other sedatives and blood‑pressure–lowering medicines). Tell us everything your cat is taking so the veterinarian can advise what’s safe. [Source]
- Q: What if I missed the planned timing or I’m unsure when to give it? A: Don’t double up without guidance. Call us so the veterinarian can advise on timing for today’s plan.
Escalation: If your cat shows severe lethargy, collapse, difficulty breathing, seizures, or doesn’t wake to stimulation, go to the nearest emergency hospital now; do not wait.
Front desk script: Acepromazine is a prescription sedative for cats. Most cats get sleepy within about an hour and may be groggy for several hours. Mild wobbliness can be normal, and urine may look pinkish temporarily. If you see collapse, very slow or difficult breathing, or your cat is unresponsive, please go to the nearest emergency vet now. For timing today or if your cat is on other meds, I’ll have our veterinarian advise you.
What owners most often report after a dose of acepromazine in cats: very sleepy or quiet behavior, wobbly or unsteady walking, and the third eyelid partly covering the eye. Cats may blink less and eyes can look a bit dry; some owners also notice urine looks light pink to red‑brown for a short time. If your cat received an injection at the clinic, the site can be mildly sore. These effects usually appear within an hour and last several hours, and the medicine should fully wear off within about a day. Your veterinarian can discuss what’s expected for this particular cat and situation.
Call us the same day if: your cat seems agitated, restless, or unusually reactive (paradoxical excitement) instead of calmer; appears too sedated to get up to eat/drink when prompted; is still very groggy or very wobbly the next day (~24 hours after a dose); the third eyelid remains up the next day; the eyes seem very dry or your cat isn’t blinking; or there’s injection‑site swelling/redness that is getting worse. Your veterinarian can advise whether any changes are needed.
Seek emergency care now if you see collapse, fainting, extreme weakness, trouble breathing, very pale or blue gums, seizures/tremors, or sudden facial swelling/hives. These can be signs of low blood pressure or a serious reaction and need urgent veterinary assessment.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling—sleepiness, wobbly walking, and a visible third eyelid can be expected for several hours after acepromazine in cats. If your cat is extremely agitated instead of calmer, or is still very sedated or very wobbly by tomorrow, we’d like our veterinarian to review that today. If you see collapse, trouble breathing, very pale gums, seizures, or facial swelling, please go to the nearest emergency clinic now. I’ll alert our medical team and have the veterinarian advise you next steps.
Available forms: acepromazine is typically sent home as tablets for cats; injections are given in-clinic. Many veterinarians may advise giving it about an hour before a planned event; follow the label and your veterinarian’s timing instructions. It may be given with or without food; if your cat vomits when given on an empty stomach, you can try a small snack next time. Do not crush or split tablets unless your veterinarian has okayed it.
Pilling tips: try hiding the tablet in a commercial pill treat (“pill pocket”) or a tiny meatball of wet food. A pill popper (piller) can help place the pill at the back of the tongue; follow with a small syringe of water or a bite of food to help it go down and reduce esophageal irritation. If your cat consistently refuses tablets, your veterinarian can discuss authorized compounding (e.g., flavored liquid or chew); some pharmacies also offer transdermal gels, but your veterinarian can advise on whether that form is appropriate for your cat.
Troubleshooting and when to escalate: mild sleepiness and wobbliness are expected. Keep the cat in a quiet, safe area until fully awake. If vomiting occurs more than once, if your cat seems overly sedated, agitated instead of calm, or you cannot get a dose in at home, call the veterinarian for guidance. Seek emergency care now if there is collapse, extreme weakness, pale gums, trouble breathing, or persistent vomiting with blood.
Front desk script: Acepromazine usually goes home as tablets for cats; give it exactly as on our label. It can be given with or without food—if your cat vomits on an empty stomach, try a small snack next time. If pilling is hard, you can try a pill pocket or a tiny meatball of wet food, and use a pill popper; offer a sip of water or a bite of food after. If your cat won’t take tablets, our veterinarian can discuss a flavored liquid or other compounding options. If you see collapse, trouble breathing, very pale gums, or vomiting over and over, please go to the nearest emergency clinic immediately.
Acepromazine (PromAce) is a prescription sedative for cats. By federal law it can only be dispensed by or on the lawful order of a licensed veterinarian, and refills must be authorized by the prescriber within a valid veterinarian–client–patient relationship (VCPR). State rules may add requirements, so all requests should be routed to the veterinarian for review. Avoid open‑ended refills; the prescriber determines quantity and number of refills. Clients may choose an outside or online pharmacy; a written or electronic prescription can be provided once approved by the veterinarian.
Front‑desk workflow: verify client/pet identifiers; medication name, strength, and form exactly as on the label; current directions on their bottle; how many doses remain; last fill date; need‑by date/event; pickup vs pharmacy name/contact; and a call‑back number. Check the record for last exam and any doctor notes related to acepromazine; if the VCPR/exam status isn’t current or the chart indicates a recheck, advise that a re‑examination may be needed and send to the veterinarian. Standard turnaround: allow up to 1–2 business days for review/authorization; flag time‑sensitive uses (e.g., travel, grooming, vet visit). For online pharmacies, send approval only after DVM authorization, or provide a written Rx per client request; prefer pharmacies accredited by NABP.
Safety screen before processing: ask if the cat has had problems after prior doses. If the caller reports collapse, extreme or prolonged unresponsiveness, very pale gums, trouble breathing, or other severe reactions after acepromazine, direct them to emergency care immediately and notify the veterinarian. For unexpected agitation/aggression or sedation that seems excessive or lasts much longer than expected, hold the refill and arrange a same‑day message/appointment so the veterinarian can advise next steps.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling about an acepromazine refill for [Pet Name]. Because this is a prescription sedative, our doctor must review and approve refills—may I confirm the medication name/strength, how many you have left, your need‑by date, and your preferred pickup or pharmacy? Our typical turnaround is up to 1 business day; if this is for a time‑sensitive event, I’ll mark it urgent. If [Pet Name] has ever collapsed, been extremely unresponsive, had very pale gums, or trouble breathing after acepromazine, please seek emergency care now and I’ll alert our veterinarian.
Escalate immediately if a cat given acepromazine is hard to wake or non‑responsive, collapses, has very pale or blue gums, is breathing fast, slow, or with effort, has seizures or severe tremors, or shows sudden extreme agitation instead of calming. These can signal dangerous low blood pressure, breathing problems, or severe nervous system effects and are emergencies. Also escalate now for signs of a severe allergic reaction: facial swelling, hives, vomiting with trouble breathing, or sudden collapse.
Suspected overdose or a second/unknown pet getting the dose is an emergency—expect signs like extreme sedation, wobbliness or inability to stand, very slow breathing or slow heartbeat, pale gums, or seizures. Sedation that lasts much longer than expected, marked weakness, or eye issues (very dry eyes or not blinking) should be reviewed the same day. Cats with heart disease, dehydration, or low blood pressure are higher‑risk; your veterinarian can discuss safety and next steps for these patients.
Front desk script: Because you’re seeing those signs after acepromazine, this can be an emergency. I’m alerting the veterinarian now—if your cat is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, or is hard to wake, go to the nearest emergency clinic immediately. If too much may have been given or the wrong pet got it, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 while heading in. Your veterinarian will advise you on next steps once we assess your cat.
Acepromazine can intensify drowsiness and lower blood pressure when combined with other medications. Always document every prescription, supplement, and OTC product the owner mentions and alert the medical team before the next dose. Your veterinarian can discuss whether the combination and timing are safe for this cat.
Commonly co‑prescribed meds to flag: gabapentin (additive sedation), buprenorphine or other opioids (additive sedation/respiratory depression risk), trazodone or benzodiazepines (extra sedation/low blood pressure), and blood‑pressure or heart/kidney meds such as amlodipine or benazepril (further blood‑pressure drop). Also flag if the cat is on fluoxetine, metoclopramide or cisapride (potential cardiac/neurologic interactions), NSAIDs like meloxicam, or if organophosphate insecticides were recently used—veterinarian review is required.
OTC human products owners often give: diphenhydramine/“Benadryl” (can markedly increase sedation), antacids or antidiarrheals such as Tums/Maalox/Pepto‑Bismol/kaolin‑pectin or sucralfate (may reduce acepromazine absorption if given around the same time), and multi‑symptom cold/motion‑sickness meds that may hide sedating ingredients. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs like ibuprofen/naproxen are dangerous for cats—treat any use as an emergency. Urgent red flags while on acepromazine or sedating combinations: extreme weakness, collapse, very pale gums, or trouble breathing; escalate immediately to emergency care. Your veterinarian will advise on safe combinations and spacing if any of the above are in use.
Front desk script: Thanks for telling me about your cat’s other medications—some can increase drowsiness or lower blood pressure with acepromazine. I’m going to have our veterinarian review this combination before you give any more, and we’ll call you right back today. If you’ve given Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen/naproxen at any time, those are dangerous for cats—please head to the nearest emergency hospital now and let us know so we can call ahead. If your cat is extremely weak, collapses, has very pale gums, or is struggling to breathe, that is an emergency—please go in right away.
Storage: Keep acepromazine in its original, tightly closed container at room temperature and protected from light. Avoid humidity and heat (do not store in bathrooms, cars, or near stoves). Keep all medications in a secure, child‑resistant location that pets and children cannot access. If the dispensing label is unclear or storage is challenging for the household, your veterinarian can advise on safe alternatives.
Shelf life after opening: Commercial tablets are generally used until the bottle’s labeled expiration date when stored as directed. Compounded liquids often have shorter “discard by” dates and may require refrigeration—follow the pharmacy label exactly and do not use past the printed date; when in doubt, check with the prescribing veterinarian or dispensing pharmacy.
Disposal and safety: Do not share leftover medication or repackage it for other pets. For disposal, use a drug take‑back site or mail‑back program when possible. If a take‑back option isn’t available and the drug is not on the FDA flush list, mix the medication (do not crush) with an unappealing substance (used coffee grounds or cat litter), seal in a bag/container, and place in household trash. Keep medications in their labeled containers to reduce mix‑ups. If a child or any pet swallows extra medication or shows severe drowsiness, collapse, or trouble breathing, treat this as an emergency—contact your veterinarian or local emergency veterinary hospital immediately and consider calling a poison control resource (ASPCA APCC 888‑426‑4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855‑764‑7661). Your veterinarian can discuss any case‑specific handling questions at pickup.
What to monitor: At home, owners should watch their cat’s level of sleepiness, ability to walk, breathing effort/rate, gum color, and body temperature while acepromazine is active. In cats, this drug can reduce tear production and the third eyelid may be more visible; advise owners to call if the eyes look dry or irritated. In-clinic, the veterinarian may request checks of heart rate/rhythm, blood pressure, and temperature while the pet is on this medication or if there are risk factors (e.g., heart or liver disease) because acepromazine can lower blood pressure.
Scheduling and follow‑up: For first‑time use at home, plan a quick check‑in (phone or message) the next business day to document how long the cat was sleepy, any behavior changes, and any concerns to relay to the medical team. If acepromazine will be used repeatedly or the cat has underlying conditions, schedule a nurse/technician visit for vitals (and blood pressure if ordered) per the veterinarian’s plan. If acepromazine is being used as part of a pre‑anesthesia plan, follow the doctor’s pre‑operative schedule; a pre‑anesthetic evaluation and monitoring are standard, and the veterinarian will advise if baseline lab work or other tests are needed. Urgent red flags for owners: collapse, very pale/blue gums, severe trouble breathing, extreme or unarousable sedation, or sudden marked agitation instead of calming—advise immediate emergency care. Your veterinarian can discuss any additional monitoring or lab testing specific to the individual cat.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling about your cat’s acepromazine. We’ll do a quick check‑in the next business day after the first dose to record how sleepy they were and any concerns for the doctor. If your cat will use this medicine more than once or has heart or liver issues, the doctor may want a nurse visit for vitals or a blood‑pressure check—we’ll schedule that as directed. If this medication is for a procedure, we’ll follow the doctor’s pre‑anesthesia plan, which can include testing and monitoring. If you notice collapse, very pale or blue gums, trouble breathing, or your cat is extremely hard to wake, please go to the nearest emergency clinic right away.
Acepromazine is a prescription sedative used to help cats stay calm for travel, veterinary visits, or procedures. It does not provide pain relief. Responses can vary by cat; expected short-term effects may include drowsiness, wobbliness, a visible third eyelid, and occasionally pink to red‑brown urine. Effects generally wear off within about a day; keep the cat in a quiet, safe space while sedated. Your veterinarian can discuss if acepromazine is appropriate for an individual cat and how to use it for your visit or procedure.
Serious signs that need immediate action include collapse, extreme weakness or being very hard to wake, trouble breathing, seizures, or facial swelling/hives—go to the nearest emergency clinic now and call us on the way. If your cat becomes unusually agitated or aggressive instead of sleepy, separate them to a safe room and call us for guidance. Cats with heart or liver problems, dehydration, or low blood pressure may need special caution; the veterinarian will advise. Do not start, stop, or adjust this medication without the veterinarian’s direction.
Front-desk pointers: do not give dosing or timing instructions over the phone; direct those questions to the medical team. Avoid phrases like “it’s safe for all cats,” “just give more or less,” or “this will knock them out.” Instead say, “our veterinarian will guide you on if and how to use it for your cat,” and offer a quick handoff or appointment.
Front desk script: Thanks for calling [Hospital Name], this is [Your Name]. I understand you’re calling about acepromazine for your cat—this is a prescription sedative that helps some cats relax, and responses can vary. If your cat is extremely hard to wake, has pale or blue gums, trouble breathing, seizures, or collapses, please head to the nearest emergency clinic now and call us on the way. For when to give it or any adjustments, I can’t advise on dosing—our veterinarian will direct that; let me get a nurse/doctor for you or schedule a quick consult. We avoid saying it’s safe for all cats or suggesting more/less; I’ll connect you with the medical team right now.