Baby Safety / Compounds / Acepromazine

Is Acepromazine safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Acepromazine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is acepromazine?

The IUPAC name is 1-[10-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]phenothiazin-2-yl]ethanone.

Also known as: Acetylpromazine, Acetopromazine, Acepromazina, Atravet.

IUPAC name
1-[10-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]phenothiazin-2-yl]ethanone
CAS number
61-00-7
Molecular formula
C19H22N2OS
Molecular weight
326.46 g/mol
SMILES
CC(=O)C1=CC2=C(SC3=CC=CC=C3N2CCCN(C)C)C=C1
PubChem CID
6077

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Acepromazine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Acepromazine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Acepromazine. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
FDA1960Approved veterinary drug
DEA2020Not a controlled substance

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter acepromazine

  • Veterinary Medicine

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Acepromazine:

  • Dexmedetomidine (more titratable)
    Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×
  • Trazodone (oral anxiolytic, no injection)
    Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

No FAQ entries generated.

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Sources (1)
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Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →