Table 6.

Suggested oral therapy for systemic hypertension

Drug	Dose	Comments
Amlodipine (calcium channel blocker)	0.0625–0.25 mg/kg q24h	Licensed for feline use in some countries.
		Good efficacy in several studies. Licensed dose in Europe is 0.125–0.25 mg/kg q24h; dose can be doubled (up to 0.5 mg/kg q24h) if needed 127
Telmisartan (ARB)	1–3 mg/kg q24h	Licensed for feline use in some countries as an antiproteinuric agent at 1 mg/kg. Clinical efficacy as antihypertensive uncertain, but higher doses appear to have some efficacy in experimental studies
Benazepril (ACEI)	0.25–0.5 mg/kg q24h	Limited effect on blood pressure used alone; best considered as adjuvant therapy in refractory cases. Dose can be doubled to 0.5–1.0 mg/kg q24h if needed
Propranolol Atenolol (beta-blockers)	2.5–5.0 mg/cat q8h	Limited effect on blood pressure used alone; best considered as adjuvant therapy in refractory cases
	6.25–12.5 mg/cat q12h

ARB = angiotensin receptor blocker; ACEI = angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor