The FDA has recently approved the use of a new formulation of pergolide for the treatment of Equine Cushing’s disease.Prascend® is the only FDA-approved product for the treatment of this condition. Veterinarians and horse owners are excited to have a product available that has consistent manufacturing and quality control with reliable strength and stability.
New FDA-approved formulation of pergolide
Prascend is the only FDA-approved product for the treatment of Equine Cushing's disease.
Equine Cushing’s disease is a common hormonal condition in horses. The majority of horses with this condition are over the age of 15 years but it has been seen in horses half that age. Some estimates have suggested that one in seven older horses will develop Cushing’s disease.
It is caused by dysfunction of the pituitary gland and can result in laminitis, failure to shed hair coat, recurrent infections, excessive sweating, muscle loss and excessive water consumption. Failure to shed often results in a long curly coat that is almost always caused by Cushing’s disease.
Blood tests are available to confirm the presence of the condition if needed. These blood tests are not accurate however during the fall months. There is no cure for the condition in horses, but many can be maintained with good overall health care, proper nutrition and medication.
Pergolide is a drug that has been used to treat horses with Cushing’s disease for a number of years but until recently has been available only through compounding pharmacies. Independent testing has shown variability in the quality and stability of many of these products.
Horse owners can now be confident that the medication they are using undergoes stringent quality control. With the release of the FDA-approved product it is no longer lawful to prescribe or sell the compounded product.