Is 50 mg of trazodone (generic name) a safe dose for a cat?

Safety of 50 mg Trazodone in Cats

A 50 mg dose of trazodone can be safely administered to cats for reducing anxiety during veterinary visits, but this dose is higher than the recommended weight-based dosing for most cats and should be adjusted based on the cat's weight.

Dosing Considerations for Cats

Trazodone has been studied specifically in cats as an anxiolytic medication for veterinary visits and transportation. The research shows several important dosing considerations:

• Weight-based dosing: The recommended dose range is 5-12 mg/kg 1, 2
• Fixed dosing: Studies have used fixed doses of 50 mg per cat 3, 4
• Combination therapy: Trazodone has been studied alone and in combination with gabapentin 1, 4, 2

Appropriate Dosing Algorithm

1. Calculate weight-based dose:

   • For a typical adult cat (4-5 kg): 5 mg/kg would be 20-25 mg
   • For larger cats (8-10 kg): 5 mg/kg would be 40-50 mg

2. Consider cat size:

   • Small cats (<4 kg): 50 mg is likely too high
   • Medium cats (4-8 kg): 50 mg may be appropriate for the upper end of this range
   • Large cats (>8 kg): 50 mg is likely appropriate

Efficacy and Safety Profile

Research studies have demonstrated that trazodone is effective for reducing anxiety in cats during veterinary visits:

• A placebo-controlled study found that 50 mg of trazodone resulted in significant improvement in signs of anxiety during transport compared to placebo 3
• Trazodone at doses of 50,75, and 100 mg caused appreciable sedation in laboratory cats with activity reductions of 83%, 46%, and 66%, respectively 5

Safety Considerations

The safety profile of trazodone in cats appears favorable:

• No adverse effects or changes in physical examinations or laboratory values were detected in cats receiving 50-100 mg doses 5
• The most common adverse event related to trazodone administration was sleepiness 3
• Short-duration excitatory reactions were observed in 12.5% of cats receiving trazodone alone 4

Pharmacokinetics

Trazodone is rapidly absorbed in cats:

• Bioavailability: 54.9% when administered alone 1
• Time to peak concentration (Tmax): 0.17 hours (approximately 10 minutes) 1
• Half-life: 5.12 ± 2.56 hours 1

Clinical Recommendations

For veterinary visits and transportation anxiety:

1. Start with weight-based dosing: 5 mg/kg is a good starting point
2. Timing: Administer 1-2 hours before the anticipated stressful event
3. Monitor for side effects: Primarily sedation, but also watch for excitatory reactions
4. Consider individual factors: Age, health status, and concurrent medications

Potential Pitfalls and Caveats

• Overdosing risk: 50 mg is higher than the weight-based dose for many cats
• Individual variation: Response to trazodone can vary between individual cats
• Lack of veterinary guidelines: Unlike human medicine, there are no formal veterinary guidelines for trazodone use in cats
• Drug interactions: Limited information is available about interactions with other medications commonly used in cats

While 50 mg trazodone has been studied and shown to be safe in research settings, adjusting the dose based on the cat's weight is the most appropriate approach for clinical practice.

Human Medical Note: This answer addresses veterinary use in cats. Trazodone is used differently in humans, where it is not recommended for insomnia according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 6.