Anipryl (Selegiline)

What is Anipryl?

Anipryl canine medicine (selegiline) is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, or MAOI, which intends to treat dogs who suffer fromm Cushing’s Disease and Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, or senility. Also known as L-Deprenyl, it requires a prescription from your veterinarian before it can be administrated to your dog. When administered, this medicine increases the overall concentration of a certain chemical known as dopamine, which is a nervous system messenger. As the amount of dopamine increases in the body, many cognitive processes improve. The act of treating Cushing’s Disease has always been focused on suppressing the production of cortisone in the adrenal gland, though this generally comes with a number of side effects. Anipryl makes it possible to directly suppress the pituitary gland and avoid these high risks.

How to use Anipryl

To reiterate, this prescription medicine is only to be used in dogs for the purposes of treating canine cognitive dysfunction and for treating Cushing’s disease due to a pituitary tumor. With that in mind, it is also important to remember not to exceed the dosage prescribed without first consulting your veterinarian. Side effects of Anipryl may include drowsiness or dizziness. Any dog undergoing treatment for cognitive dysfunction should take 0.2 mg to 0.45 mg per pound of body weight. You may not see improvement until at least a month. For treatment of Cushing’s disease, the typical starting dosage is 0.45 per pound of body weight, once every morning. If two months pass without improvement, the dosage may be doubled. If after a month this still fails to show any improvement, your dog will need to be re-evaluated. Anipryl comes in the following strengths: Anipryl 2mg Tablets Anipryl 5mg Tablets Anipryl 10mg Tablets Anipryl 15mg Tablets Anipryl 30mg Tablets

Anipryl warnings and precautions

Anipryl must be kept out of reach of children and is not for human use. This can result in severe DNS toxicity, which has been known to lead to death, especially when combined with antidepressants. Do not exceed the dosages as prescribed by a licensed veterinarian.

What do I do if I have missed a Anipryl dose?

In the event that you miss giving your dog a dose, give her the dosage as soon as you remember you missed it. However, in the event that you remember shortly before the next regularly schedule dosage, do not administer it. Instead of giving a double dosage, it is better to skip the previous one and continue with the regular schedule. In the event that you accidentally overdose the pet, immediately seek emergency veterinary medical assistance. Symptoms of an overdose of Anipryl include irritability, excitement, nervousness, insomnia, severe headache, dizziness, hallucinations, weakness, seizures and sweating.

Anipryl interactions

In humans, concurrent use of MAO inhibitors with alpha-2 agonists has resulted in extreme fluctuations of blood pressure; therefore, blood pressure monitoring is recommended with concurrent use in dogs. Also, in humans, severe CNS toxicity including death has been reported with the combination of selegiline and tricyclic antidepressants, and selegiline and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Although no such adverse drug interactions were reported in the clinical trials in dogs, it seems prudent to avoid the combination of Anipryl and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g., fluoxetine) as well as Anipryl and tricyclic (e.g., clomipramine, amitriptyline, imipramine) or other antidepressants. At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of Anipryl and initiation of treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Because of the long half-life of fluoxetine and its active metabolites, at least 5 weeks should elapse between discontinuation of fluoxetine and initiation of treatment with Anipryl. Concurrent use of Anipryl with ephedrine or potential MAO inhibitors, such as amitraz, is not recommended.

Anipryl side effects

In the event that any of the following side effects occur, immediately seek emergency veterinary medical services: difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, swelling of the tongue, swelling of the face, hives, a severe headache, agitation, sweating, restlessness, convulsions, uncontrollable or irregular movements. Stop administering Anipryl as well. Other Anipryl side effects may occur as well, which are of less serious consequences. Should any of the following instances occur, continue administering Anipryl but see your veterinarian about the symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, mild confusion, anxiety, agitation, dry mouth or any other sort of side effect that appears to be either unusual or bothersome to your dog.