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My cat has loss of balance after taking gabapentin for anxiety before a vet visit. It’s been 6 hours and she’s still not quite right. Should I be worried?

My cat has loss of balance after taking gabapentin for anxiety before a vet visit. It’s been 6 hours and she’s still not quite right. Should I be worried?

Updated On March 27th, 2019

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Female | spayed | 5 years and 10 months old | 11 lbs

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

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Hi there. It’s common for cats to be a bit wobbly when they have taken a sedative or anti-anxiety medication like gabapentin, so this would not normally be cause for concern. This medication can last for up to 8 hours or so, so I normally tell my clients to expect that their kitty may seem a bit drowsy or off-balance for the rest of the day.

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