Seizures after Detomidine in horses

The FDA has received 40 reports of seizures in horses after Detomidine. That is 4.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 2.0% across reports for all horse medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

40Reports

63%Marked serious

33%Recovered

40%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

23 96%

1–2 days

1 4.2%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

0 0.0%

How the animals did

Recovered

13 33%

Still unwell when reported

1 2.5%

Died

2 5.0%

Euthanised

14 35%

Not known

10 25%

Problems reported at the same time

20 50%

16 40%

7 18%

6 15%

Apnoea

5 13%

Falling

4 10%

Behaviour change

4 10%

Nystagmus

4 10%

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 seizures in horses?: 40 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).

Seizures with similar medicines

Seizures after Pergolide 34 reports · 2.8% of its reports
Seizures after Ceftiofur 52 reports · 4.3% of its reports
Seizures after Flunixin Meglumine 58 reports · 9.3% of its reports
Seizures after Xylazine 36 reports · 7.7% of its reports

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