Tachycardia after Detomidine in horses

The FDA has received 45 reports of tachycardia in horses after Detomidine. That is 4.5% 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.

45Reports

51%Marked serious

40%Recovered

22%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

24 80%

1–2 days

3 10%

3–7 days

1 3.3%

1–4 weeks

1 3.3%

Over a month

1 3.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

18 40%

Still unwell when reported

4 8.9%

Died

6 13%

Euthanised

4 8.9%

Not known

13 29%

Problems reported at the same time

20 44%

10 22%

10 22%

9 20%

7 16%

6 13%

6 13%

Gut sounds decreased

6 13%

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 tachycardia in horses?: 45 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).

Tachycardia with similar medicines

Tachycardia after Ceftiofur 55 reports · 4.5% of its reports
Tachycardia after Flunixin Meglumine 24 reports · 3.9% of its reports

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