Tricyclic antidepressants

Severity scale:
Caution
This toxin is considered to be a moderate risk. However, your pet's medical history, age, weight, and breed could put him/her at higher risk. It is advised that you contact whiskerDocs or your primary veterinarian for further guidance about any steps you may need to take to ensure your pet's safety. If you choose to, you may monitor your pet closely, but the onset or worsening of any of the below symptoms warrants a trip to the emergency room.

The idea behind antidepressants is to make people "feel good" again, and some tricyclic antidepressants are even used in pets who have anxiety and stress concerns. Even at prescribed doses, this class of medications can cause moderate side effects including severe aggression or agitation, confusion, fever, irregular heart rhythms, fast movement of the eyes, seizures, dilated pupils, and constipation. With sudden accidental ingestions or ingestions of large amounts, lethargy, walking drunk, low body temperature, respiratory depression, blue/gray tink to the gums, and coma could result.

Toxic to: 
Dogs and Cats
Formulations: 
Amitriptyline, clomipramine, nortriptyline
Symptoms: 
Agitation, confusion, fever, cardiac arrhythmias, fast movement of the eyes, seizures, dilated pupils, and constipation. This may be followed by lethargy, walking drunk, low body temperature, respiratory depression, blue/gray tink to the gums, and coma.
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