Breathing problems after Detomidine in horses

The FDA has received 133 reports of breathing problems in horses after Detomidine. That is 13% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 3.4% across reports for all horse medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

133Reports

35%Marked serious

40%Recovered

14%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

61 92%

1–2 days

3 4.5%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

1 1.5%

Over a month

1 1.5%

How the animals did

Recovered

53 40%

Still unwell when reported

2 1.5%

Died

13 9.8%

Euthanised

5 3.8%

Not known

60 45%

Problems reported at the same time

27 20%

24 18%

21 16%

20 15%

18 14%

16 12%

14 11%

11 8.3%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Detomidine cause breathing problems in horses?: 133 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).

Breathing problems with similar medicines

Breathing problems after Pergolide 33 reports · 2.7% of its reports
Breathing problems after Ceftiofur 64 reports · 5.3% of its reports
Breathing problems after Flunixin Meglumine 41 reports · 6.6% of its reports
Breathing problems after Xylazine 35 reports · 7.5% of its reports
Breathing problems after Butorphanol 29 reports · 9.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Detomidine in horses · Medicines most reported with breathing problems