Clomipramine - Veterinary Uses

Veterinary Uses

Clomipramine is widely used for the treatment of disturbed behaviour of dogs, cats, and horses. Marketed by Novartis for veterinary use under the name 'Clomicalm', clomipramine is given orally and has different licensed uses in different countries.

In the US, clomipramine is currently only licensed to treat separation anxiety in dogs. However it is often prescribed in off-label use for many other conditions including other anxiety disorders, phobias (noise phobia in dogs, et al.), obsessive-compulsive disorders (tail chasing, excessive grooming, et al.), and "mood" problems. It has also been used in older dogs suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) or canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS or CCDS), though it is important to note that unlike Anipryl clomipramine is not thought to reverse the condition by increasing dopamine levels in the brain to improve function; it only "treats the symptoms" so to speak and only those related to anxiety to make the dog feel more relaxed and calmer.

The UK license is restricted to the drug being used:

"As an aid in the treatment of separation-related disorders in dogs manifested by destruction and inappropriate elimination (defecation and urination) and only in combination with behavioural modification techniques."

In Australia the license is broader:

"Treatment of stereotypic behaviours (obsessive-compulsive disorders) in dogs such as acral lick dermatitis, excessive grooming and tail chasing. An aid in the treatment of anxiety disorders in dogs such as destructiveness, excessive vocalisation, loss of toilet control, associated with separation anxiety. An aid in the treatment of urine spraying in desexed and female cats." —Product Information for Clomicalm, Novartis Animal Health Australasia Pty Limited

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Off-label use: If a drug is used outside of its license in a given country, this constitutes "off-label" use. For example, use of clomipramine in urine spraying cats would be off-label in the UK, but within the Australian license. This is important because legal restrictions on the off-label use of drugs apply nationally, and must be considered when using such drugs in a given problem in a particular species. Clomipramine has been used for cognitive dysfunction syndrome to alleviate anxiety associated with the disease; however it is not believed to manage the underlying cause of the problem.