Transdermal Fluoxetine to Treat Feline Anxiety

A Case Study:   An 8-year-old spayed female cat in excellent health began urinating on carpeted areas following the owner's move to a new home. The veterinarian evaluated the cat and per his suggestion, the carpets were professionally cleaned to eliminate any trace of urine that may have been left from a pet of a previous resident. However, the inappropriate behavior continued, and the veterinarian determined that the cause was anxiety, related to the recent move. He consulted the local compounding pharmacist and prescribed transdermal fluoxetine (Prozacâ„¢) for application to the cat's ear, to make it easy for the owner to administer the medication. The prescription was prepared in a pluronic lecithin organogel in a 20 mg/ml concentration and dispensed in 1 ml topical syringes, to facilitate easy changes in dose if necessary. The starting dose was 1 mg/kg every 24 hours, or 4 mg/0.2 ml for the 9-pound cat. No adjustment was needed in dosage, and the owner reported that the inappropriate urination behavior ceased completely after approximately 3 weeks of medication. The dosage was gradually reduced, the cat was weaned off the fluoxetine after 5 months, and no further behavioral incidents were reported by the owner.

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding Nov/Dec 2006; 10(6):418

This is an example of how a compounding pharmacy like Pharmacy Innovations can help people and their pets. We customize medications in a variety of dosage forms and flavor when appropriate, to make medicine easier to administer and improve outcomes.
 
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