
HA Special Care Drug Chart
Drug name
Common name
Drug
classification
Indications / common uses Administration and
onset – full effect
Duration Side effects and
Hazards
Contraindications
Acepromazine
PromAce
Ace
Aceproject
Tranquilizer
Phenothiazine
type
• tranquilization & mild sedation
• decrease anxiety
• laminitis- peripheral vasodilator
• relaxation of penis muscle
• very little analgesic effect
• traquilization for: trailering,
turnout, prevent excitement
• non-immobilizing and little ataxia
less effective if given
after horse is excited
IV: 10-15 minutes
IM: 10-30 minutes
Orally: 20-60 minutes
*increasing dosage in
non-responding horses
does not increase
sedation
1-4 hours if horse is
left quiet
Little effect if horse
is already excited
Can vary greatly
among individual
horses. Detectible in
blood for up to 120
hours.
• decreases blood pressure
• depresses CNS
• Penile paralysis
• prolapsed third eyelid
• not used in colic
• dehydration,
anemia, shock, or
when recently de-
wormed with
piperazine
• use in stallions
Xylazine
Rompum
Sedazine
Sedative and
analgesic
• tranquilization
• pain relief – colic
• dental work, lowering head, joint
injections, premed for anesthesia
• muscle relaxation
IV: 1-5 minutes
IM: 10-20 minutes
30-40 IV, 60-90 IM
dose depending
• slows heart rate,
increases BP
• ataxia and sweating
• horse may appear
sedated but can react
suddenly-kick
•decreases gut motility,
can mask colic pain
• lethal to humans
• should not be used
in horse with
abnormal heart
rhythm, shock,
dehydration, and
severe respiratory,
kidney, or liver
disease
Flunixin
meglumine
Banamine
**NSAID
• abdominal pain
• anti-pyretic (fever reducer)
• prevention of endotoxemia
• soft tissue inflammation – eye
• anti-inflammatory, not commonly
used for musculoskeletal system
IV: 10-15 minutes
(10cc 1000 lb horse)
**IM: 15-30 minutes
Orally: 20-40 minutes
(10cc 1000 lb horse)
12-16 hours
depending on dose
• can mask symptoms of
colic
• GI ulcers if given orally
• **IM injection can
cause injection site
abscess
• chronic use can
cause GI Ulcer
• kidney damage in
dehydrated horses
Dexamethasone
Azium, Predef 2x
Corticosteroid:
hormone
naturally
produced by
adrenal gland
• fast acting anti-inflammatory for
all body tissues: allergic reactions,
ocular disorders, COPD
• CNS inflammation
• shock
• decrease immune response
• proud Flesh
• autoimmune disorders
• powerful membrane stabilizer
IV: within 5 minutes
IM: within 15 minutes
Orally: 1-2 hours,
tapering doses at the
end of oral treatment
Topical ointments and
creams
Days to week
If more than one
dose is used then
taper off the drug
vary depending on dose
and treatment duration
• laminitis or founder
with prolonged treatment
• increased drinking and
urination
• inhibit normal hormone
production
• delay healing
• suppress immune
response
• gastric ulcers
• avoid in pregnant or
lactating mares
• use caution when
using in older horses
and ponies
Phenylbutazone
Bute
**NSAID
• musculoskeletal pain (decreases
nerve hypersensitivity) and
inflammation: lameness, arthritis,
trauma, laminitis
• fever reduction
• general anti-inflammatory
IV: 15-20 minutes
(10ml for 1000lb horse)
Orally (tablets, powder,
paste): 30-60 minutes
(up to 2g per day)
Never IM
12-24 hours
Exceeding
recommended dose
does not increase its
effect
• with chronic use: gastric
ulcers, kidney damage in
dehydrated horses
Caution when used in
horse with GI
problems, kidney or
liver disease,
pregnant or lactating
mare
Butorphanol
Torbutrol
Torbugesic
Synthetic
narcotic
Opioid
analgesic
• Analgesic, most commonly for
severe colic pain, laminitis, dentistry
• may be used with other sedative or
analgesic to enhance effect
• 2-5 x more potent then morphine
IV or IM injection
(.5-1 cc for 1000lb
horse)
Onset within 5-10
minutes, quicker for IV
About 4 hours • ataxia
• temporary CNS
response: continuous
walking and head tossing
(“torb jerks”)
• caution when used
in pregnant or
lactating mares