Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology - CYF MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION

DRUGS USED TO TREAT TACHYARRHYTHMIAS
Table 17.7 Doses of common antiarrhythmic agents
Drug Species Route Dose
b-blockers (Class II)
Atenolol
Dog
Cat
PO
PO
6.25 mg (0.25 mg/kg)–50 mg (1 mg/kg) q.12 h (total dose; start low; titrate)
6.25–12.5 mg q.12–24 h (total dose; start low; titrate)
Esmolol Both IV 0.25–0.5 mg/kg (single dose; maximum effect in 1–4 min); 10–200 µg/kg/min
constant rate infusion
Propranolol
Dog
Cat
Both
PO
PO
IV
0.1–2.0 mg/kg q.8 h (start low and titrate to effect in atrial fibrillation; higher
doses used for other arrhythmias)
2.5–10 mg (total dose; start low; titrate)
0.01–0.1 mg/kg (start low; titrate to effect for supraventricular arrhythmias)
Carvedilol* Dog PO 0.25-1.25 mg/kg q.12 h (total dose; start low and titrate, larger dogs and dogs
with systolic dysfunction will not get to the highest dose)
Calcium channel blockers (Class IV)
Diltiazem*
Dog
Cat
PO
IV
PO
0.5–1.5 mg/kg q.8 h (start low; titrate to effect for atrial fibrillation)
0.5–3 mg/kg (start low; titrate to effect for supraventricular tachycardia)
0.05–0.25 mg/kg (administer initial 0.05 mg/kg dose over 2–3 min; repeat
every 5–10 min up to cumulative dose of 0.25 mg/kg)
7.5–15 mg q.8 h (total dose)
Verapamil Dog IV 0.05–0.15 mg/kg (administer initial 0.05 mg/kg dose over 2–3 min; repeat every
5–10 min up to cumulative dose of 0.15 mg/kg)
Positive chronotropes
Atropine* Both IV, SC 0.02–0.04 mg/kg
Glycopyrrolate* Both IV, SC 0.005–0.01 mg/kg
Isoproterenol Both IV 0.01–0.1 µg/kg/min (constant rate infusion; alternatively, dilute 1 mg in 500 mL
of 5% dextrose or lactated Ringer’s solution and infuse to effect)
Terbutaline Dog PO 2.5–10 mg (total dose; start low; titrate)
Other
Digoxin
Dog
Cat
PO
PO
0.22 mg/m 2 of body surface area q.12 h for dogs >20 kg
0.005–0.01 mg/kg q.12 h for dogs