Medicines that help dogs and cats resist pain and anxiety began to be used as drugs in Russia. The authorities want to ban its sale without a prescription. What should animal owners do?

Rosselkhoznadzor and Ministry of Agriculture He stated that veterinary medicines contain the active ingredient Gabapentin It will be sold by prescription only. We are talking about products with brand names “Gapentin”, “Vetgaba”, “Gabitabs” and. Rosselkhoznadzor also stated that the restrictions will have an impact Trazodone (“Cycle of Calmness” and “Expression of Calmness”).

This has pet owners concerned: gabapentin and trazodone are used to treat anxiety in pets. First too hiring For cramps and chronic pain.

In addition, as of March 1, gabapentin is included in medicines intended for humans became subject to Objective quantitative accounting. In other words, it is now impossible to buy it without a special prescription with several stamps.

Pet owners fear that all these changes will make it more difficult to obtain these medications for their pets.

At the end of 2025 – beginning of 2026, Russian teenagers, according to some Telegram channels, began to “en masse” purchase the veterinary drug gabapentin for use as a medicine, which led to poisoning. Deputies of the State Duma, in particular Nina Ostanina and Sergei Leonov, He has been contacted To Roszdravnadzor and the Ministry of Agriculture with the requirement to impose age restrictions on the sale of the drug.

The Association of Pharmaceutical Institutions “SoyuzPharma” went even further Suggested Allowing the sale of veterinary medicines remotely only with the permission of Rosselkhoznadzor. to divide Agreedit is necessary to change the rules for the online sale of all veterinary medicines, as well as the manufacture of gabapentin and trazodone drugs.

Administrative focus on trazodone He explained Because it may pose a risk to human health. Although CountsThat there can be no dependence on him, on him is used Not according to indications – apparently, with psychoactive substances. In addition, trazodone, used as an antidepressant in humans, is a prescription drug, meaning it must be prescribed by a doctor.

In veterinary practice, gabapentin is mainly used as an anti-anxiety or analgesic agent. It is prescribed for dogs, cats, horses, and less commonly for rabbits, rodents, and other small mammals.

The anti-anxiety effect of gabapentin is superior lesson In cats. He was appointed For examplein situations where the pet has to go through stress (Flightdeparture of the owner, arrival of guests, etc.) American Association of Veterinary Practitioners – International Society of Feline Medicine recommend Use gabapentin before seeing your doctor.

Trazodone also He advances As an anti-anxiety agent (eg, in Fireworks season Or when Separation anxiety), not only in situations that require short-term action, but also on an ongoing basis. but There are doubts The fact that it has an anti-anxiety effect, does not make the pet more depressed at the same level of anxiety.

Gabapentin still hiring Alone or with other medications to treat chronic pain. This may be necessary if the pain is caused, for example, by intervertebral disc disease, cancer, diabetes, amputation or osteoarthritis.

Gabapentin is completely safe. When used in animals, it has almost no absolute contraindications, but in some diseases it is necessary to determine the dosage more carefully. For example, in case of liver and kidney diseases, the dose should be large less normal.

It will become more difficult for pets to get help if they are in pain, anxiety, or fear.

If gabapentin and trazodone became prescription drugs, it would no longer be possible to purchase them online (at the very least, it would be illegal and crackdowns would be taken against such sales). As of mid-March 2026, all veterinary medications will be discontinued Gabapentin and Trazodone Without a prescription, but the product the teens allegedly purchased (“Gapentin”), in January 2026 Provided a prescription. It appears that the interest in it was due to its sale in higher doses compared to other registered drugs.

Now pet owners will need it, even if the medication was needed once – to relieve anxiety. However, a visit to the vet in itself can be a stressful event for the animal. It will be especially difficult for cats: they are more likely to become anxious when they have to leave their home.

In addition, the validity period of a prescription, even if written, is limited – by default it is 30 days. But the doctor, if necessary, can extend it for up to a year.

In current circumstances, you cannot rely on being able to purchase “human” trazodone or gabapentin. “Human” pharmacies before He had no right Selling drugs according to veterinary prescriptions, now it will be impossible to buy gabapentin. But the point is not even that as of March 1, a special prescription will be needed for it, but rather that it has disappeared from pharmacies and is unlikely to return. Deputy Director of the Association of Independent Pharmacies Elena Sokolova He explained “Kommersant” said that it is easier for pharmacies to refuse to sell medicines to avoid increased censorship.

However, without your veterinarian’s approval, it is best not to give your pets “human” medications, because… He can Contains additives that are harmful to animals (for example, xylitol, or xylitol, is toxic to dogs).

In Russia, only a few drugs intended for veterinary use are available, and they are usually… hiring For chronic pain: NSAIDs (such as carprofen, firocoxib) and opioid analgesics (such as tramadol). At the same time, they are not always suitable or they alone are not enough, but veterinary drugs that can be used in such cases instead of gabapentin are not available in Russia: pregabalin, amantadine and amitriptyline.

As for anxiety and fear, there are also no effective alternatives to trazodone and gabapentin in Russia. Nor to reduce anxiety Before visiting the vetnor to reduce anxiety during Flightsnor to work with Separation anxiety.

On the open market, you can only find dietary supplements (dietary supplements) that have no proven effectiveness, and they are not officially considered medicines. Not to mention that their quality is less regulated than that of medicines.

It is possible, but be careful. Some medications that a veterinarian may prescribe are illegal to transport across borders. For example, pregabalin, which is used as an alternative to gabapentin. Applicable For active substances and their cross-border transportation it can only be used for personal use for medical reasons – the law does not provide for the transportation of a pet in any way.

However, if a pet suffers from anxiety on a constant or regular basis, medication alone cannot solve this problem: a comprehensive work-up with an animal psychologist is needed.

Protocols will be different in each case. But they all are It shouldn’t Penalties included. The essence of the approach is usually to precisely define the problem, Satisfy as much as possible The basic needs of the pet and following the rules that will help the animal feel calm and teach it new behaviors. It’s hard work that doesn’t always end in 100% success.

For example, owners with the help of treats and games He can Teaching your cat to voluntarily enter the carrier can provide her with the most comfortable conditions during the flight and get her used to being handled beforehand (again, gradually and with the help of rewards). You can take gifts and toys with you to the clinic, which will help reduce stress if done correctly.