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One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
Choose one species for its overview and dose calculator, or all species to browse the full evidence.
Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Status epilepticus — alternative to diazepam; anxiety/phobia behavior adjuncts
DogCatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Status epilepticus — alternative to diazepam; anxiety/phobia behavior adjuncts — Extra-label (human drug; C-IV)
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Status epilepticus — alternative to diazepam; anxiety/phobia behavior adjuncts — Extra-label (human drug; C-IV)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens6
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects84
Increased appetite — Common
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Behavior changes: lethargy ↔ hyperexcitability/aggression — The bidirectional class wildcard
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Behavioural disorder NOS5 reports
- Panting4 reports
- Inappropriate urination3 reports
- Not eating3 reports
- Bloody diarrhoea2 reports
- Death2 reports
- Death by euthanasia2 reports
- Dehydration2 reports
- Emesis2 reports
- Eyes rolling back2 reports
- Gait abnormality2 reports
- General illness2 reports
Cat
- Ataxia1 reports
- Death1 reports
- Decreased appetite1 reports
- Gingival hyperplasia1 reports
- Hyperkalaemia1 reports
- Hypersalivation1 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')1 reports
- Other abnormal test result NOS1 reports
- Pancreatitis1 reports
- Weight loss1 reports
Monitoring1
Seizure control + respiratory depression watch in status; sedation/behavior in chronic use
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications3
Benzo hypersensitivity, narrow-angle glaucoma, significant liver disease (still, despite relatively safer profile)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Reported safer than other benzodiazepines for liver dysfunction (per source table)
DogCatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Table 1 (p.630), row: Lorazepam, Contraindications column · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Manual
- Cat · Table 1 (p.630), row: Lorazepam, Contraindications column · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Manual
Precautions4
Myasthenia gravis; aggressive animals (disinhibition)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The human-medicine shift repeats in veterinary: lorazepam replacing diazepam for status — no active metabolites, longer action, more routes (IN!).
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Podell protocol pairing: lorazepam 0.2 mg/kg + levetiracetam 60 mg/kg load = the modern non-diazepam status response.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Liver-safe enough for the cirrhotic, obese, and geriatric patient where diazepam's nordiazepam accumulation bites.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions3
Other CNS depressants — Additive
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Valproate (human) — ↑ levels
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Flumazenil — Reversal
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics4
Metabolism — No active metabolites, minimal hepatic glucuronidation burden → safer in liver disease, obesity, geriatrics
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
PK (dog) — 0.2 mg/kg IV → ~165 ng/mL peak; >30 ng/mL (anticonvulsant threshold) for 60 min
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Routes — IV, IM, intranasal, sublingual/buccal — flexible administration
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Duration — Possibly longer anticonvulsant duration than diazepam (not proven in dogs)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Avoid (class).
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 741–742; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Drug dosage chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629–632 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references17
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Lorazepam reduces recurrence of urethral obstruction in male cats: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Insights on benzodiazepines' potential in Alzheimer's disease.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Update on Anticonvulsant Therapy in the Emergent Small Animal Patient.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysis.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Uridine Diphosphate-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B Subfamily Interspecies Differences in Carnivores.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Perrin C, Seksel K, Landsberg GM. Appendix: Drug Dosage Chart. Vet Clin Small Anim 2014;44:629-632.; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
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