Fruitcake
Well-Known Member
Anyone had any experience of side effects of Prascend?
My Sec A was diagnosed with Cushings a couple of weeks ago and was started on Prascend. Vet said to start with 1/2 tablet for 4 days then go onto 1 tablet. (Literature in Prascend box says to begin at 1/2 tablet for 4-6 WEEKS, retest, then increase as necessary but went with what vet said). At the weekend (after being on full tablet for 5 days or so), I noticed trembling on his shoulders and quarters. Yesterday morning, when he was in the stable (he has the door open and free access from his little paddock), he seemed a little unco-ordinated with his feet. Nothing like when he's had laminitis in the past, but I obviously checked his feet (cool) and for digital pulse (couldn't feel one). He was standing completely square and not shifting weight at all. He then walked outside totally normally and actually trotted up the fence line (so not lame). I remembered seeing something in the Prascend leaflet about mild symptoms of central nervous system as a side effect so re-read it and it does, indeed, say that mild ataxia can be an effect. Called vet who said it sounded like laminitis and to continue as I was with 1 tablet as he hadn't seen this side effect before. I never usually question vets, but I'm almost sure this isn't laminitis and it does seem a bit of a coincidence that this began very shortly after increasing the Prascend dose and is listed as a side effect. Vet then said if I really wanted, I could stop Prascend for 2-3 days and then restart at 1/2 tablet again- as that's what Prascend lit suggests. Am giving that a try.
No change last night (but imagine it'd be too soon anyway as he had last tablet on Sun pm) or really this morning although doesn't seem to be trembling as much. I've noticed that his movement seems completely normal outside- will happily trot up to me- but a bit stilted inside. Have done lots of googling- the worst thing for someone like me who worries uncontrollably anyway! Did find, however, that 'sensory ataxia' in humans is worse in dimly lit areas so suppose this would fit with him being affected in stable but not outside.
He's completely his usual self otherwise. Same appetite, pleased to see me. No other symptoms. He has a very small paddock with no grass to speak of other than the odd green shoot coming through and has been managed like this for the last few years with no laminitis episodes. The 3rd day of no tablets will be tomorrow night so I'm hoping to see an improvement by tomorrow. Just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced anything similar with Prascend. He's only 275kg and the 1 full tablet does is what's recommended for a 400kg-600kg horse so to me, it does seem like a large dose to put him onto after only 4 days on the lower dose.
Sorry for the long, rambling post. I'm a bit worried!
My Sec A was diagnosed with Cushings a couple of weeks ago and was started on Prascend. Vet said to start with 1/2 tablet for 4 days then go onto 1 tablet. (Literature in Prascend box says to begin at 1/2 tablet for 4-6 WEEKS, retest, then increase as necessary but went with what vet said). At the weekend (after being on full tablet for 5 days or so), I noticed trembling on his shoulders and quarters. Yesterday morning, when he was in the stable (he has the door open and free access from his little paddock), he seemed a little unco-ordinated with his feet. Nothing like when he's had laminitis in the past, but I obviously checked his feet (cool) and for digital pulse (couldn't feel one). He was standing completely square and not shifting weight at all. He then walked outside totally normally and actually trotted up the fence line (so not lame). I remembered seeing something in the Prascend leaflet about mild symptoms of central nervous system as a side effect so re-read it and it does, indeed, say that mild ataxia can be an effect. Called vet who said it sounded like laminitis and to continue as I was with 1 tablet as he hadn't seen this side effect before. I never usually question vets, but I'm almost sure this isn't laminitis and it does seem a bit of a coincidence that this began very shortly after increasing the Prascend dose and is listed as a side effect. Vet then said if I really wanted, I could stop Prascend for 2-3 days and then restart at 1/2 tablet again- as that's what Prascend lit suggests. Am giving that a try.
No change last night (but imagine it'd be too soon anyway as he had last tablet on Sun pm) or really this morning although doesn't seem to be trembling as much. I've noticed that his movement seems completely normal outside- will happily trot up to me- but a bit stilted inside. Have done lots of googling- the worst thing for someone like me who worries uncontrollably anyway! Did find, however, that 'sensory ataxia' in humans is worse in dimly lit areas so suppose this would fit with him being affected in stable but not outside.
He's completely his usual self otherwise. Same appetite, pleased to see me. No other symptoms. He has a very small paddock with no grass to speak of other than the odd green shoot coming through and has been managed like this for the last few years with no laminitis episodes. The 3rd day of no tablets will be tomorrow night so I'm hoping to see an improvement by tomorrow. Just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced anything similar with Prascend. He's only 275kg and the 1 full tablet does is what's recommended for a 400kg-600kg horse so to me, it does seem like a large dose to put him onto after only 4 days on the lower dose.
Sorry for the long, rambling post. I'm a bit worried!
