Death after Butorphanol in horses

The FDA has received 57 reports of death in horses after Butorphanol. That is 19% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 11% across reports for all horse medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

57Reports
74%Marked serious
0.0%Recovered
100%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
34 85%
1–2 days
4 10%
3–7 days
1 2.5%
1–4 weeks
0 0.0%
Over a month
1 2.5%

How the animals did

Died
43 75%
Euthanised
14 25%

Problems reported at the same time

24 42%
Seizures
15 26%
Pale mucous membrane
12 21%
Apnoea
6 11%
Tachycardia
5 8.8%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
1
1–3 years
6
4–7 years
12
8–11 years
5
12+ years
31

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Butorphanol cause death in horses?
57 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?
In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?
Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Death with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Butorphanol in horses · Medicines most reported with death