Tiletamine / Zolazepam

What it is used for

• Induction agent
• Induction agent
• Procedures such as dentistry, abscess treatment, foreign body removal
• Procedures requiring mild to moderate analgesia (lacerations, castration)
• Ovariohysterectomy and onychectomy
• General anesthesia/restraint
• Sedative/analgesic
• Sedative/analgesic
• Sedative/analgesic
• Sedative/analgesic
• Sedative/analgesic
• Induction agent for cattle, llamas/alpacas
• Restraint/Anesthesia (Llamas)

How it is given

Possible side effects

• Respiratory depression and transient apnea
• Pain upon IM injection (especially in cats due to low pH)
• Athetoid movements (involuntary writhing/twitching)
• Tachycardia (especially in dogs)
• Emesis during emergence
• Excessive salivation and bronchial/tracheal secretions
• Vocalization and erratic/prolonged recovery
• Hypothermia
• Muscle rigidity or hypertonia
• Hypertension or hypotension
• Cyanosis, pulmonary edema, or cardiac arrest (rare/at high doses)

Cautions & contraindications

• Pancreatic disease
• Severe cardiac disease
• Severe pulmonary disease
• Rabbits (due to reports of renal toxicity/nephrosis)
• Large exotic cats, especially tigers (may cause seizures, permanent neurologic abnormalities, or death)
• Cesarean section (crosses placenta, causes fetal respiratory depression)
• **Renal Dysfunction:** Animals with renal disease may experience prolonged duration of anesthetic action or recovery times. Dosages may need reduction in geriatric or debilitated patients. **Hypothermia:** May cause significant hypothermia. Susceptible animals (small body surface area, low ambient temperatures) must be monitored carefully and provided supplemental heat. **Reflexes Maintained:** Like ketamine, Telazol does not abolish pinnal, palpebral, pedal, laryngeal, and pharyngeal reflexes. Use alone may not be adequate for surgery in these areas. **Ocular Protection:** Cats' eyes remain open after administration. Protect from injury and apply an ophthalmic lubricant (e.g., Lacrilube) to prevent corneal drying. **Airway Management:** Cats reportedly do not tolerate endotracheal tubes well with this agent alone. **Species Specific Warnings:** Contraindicated in tigers and generally avoided in large exotic cats. Not recommended in rabbits due to nephrotoxicity.

Drug interactions

• Inhalational Anesthetics: Dosage may need to be reduced when used concomitantly with Telazol.
• Barbiturates: Dosage may need to be reduced when used concomitantly with Telazol.
• Chloramphenicol: In cats, anesthesia is prolonged on average by 30 minutes. No apparent effect on recovery times in dogs.
• Phenothiazines: Can cause increased respiratory and cardiac depression.
• Neuromuscular Blockers (e.g., succinylcholine): May cause enhanced or prolonged respiratory depression (extrapolated from ketamine).
• Thyroid Hormones: May induce hypertension and tachycardia (extrapolated from ketamine).
• Azole Antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole): May increase zolazepam (benzodiazepine) levels.
• Calcium Channel Blockers (diltiazem, verapamil): May increase zolazepam levels.
• Cimetidine: May increase zolazepam levels.
• Macrolides (erythromycin, clarithromycin): May increase zolazepam levels.
• Opiates: May increase hypnotic effects and risk of hypotension/respiratory depression.

Frequently asked questions