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Topic:Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs that act on the central nervous system by enhancing the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In horses, benzodiazepines are used primarily for their sedative, muscle relaxant, and anxiolytic properties. They are often administered during medical procedures to facilitate handling and reduce stress. Common benzodiazepines used in equine medicine include diazepam and midazolam. These drugs can influence the behavior and physiological responses of horses, making them useful in various clinical settings. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the pharmacokinetics, therapeutic applications, and safety profiles of benzodiazepines in equine practice.
Conditioned suppression of sexual behavior in stallions and reversal with diazepam. Sexual behavior dysfunction unaccompanied by detectable physical or endocrine abnormality is an important cause of reproductive failure among domestic stallions. Several authors have suggested that such dysfunction may be psychogenic, related to negative experience associated with intense handling and training. An experimental model of experience-related dysfunction was developed by exposing pony stallions to erection-contingent aversive conditioning. This resulted in rapid, specific suppression of sexual arousal and response similar to spontaneously occurring dysfunction. Subsequently, treatm...
Stimulation of food intake in horses by diazepam and promazine. In two adult horses doses of 0.02-0.03 mg/kg diazepam, intravenously, increased 1 hr intake 54-75% above control levels. Intake was stimulated when the diet was a high grain, calorically dense one and also when the diet was a high fiber, calorically dilute one. Two young rapidly growing weanling horses showed an even more pronounced stimulation of intake. Following diazepam 1 hr intake was increased 105-240% above control lelvels. Promazine at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg also stimulated intake in adult horses, but not as markedly as did diazepam. A transquilizer and a neuroleptic appear to have a stim...
[Effect of tranquilizer doping on the muscular activity of the sport horse. II. — Diazepam (author’s transl)]. The practise of repeated doping of the sport horse led us to examine its effects on the health of the animal, and particularly on muscular activity. The main doping agent used at present (acepromazine) has already been studied (COURTOT et al., 1974). In this paper, we study the secondary effects of diazepam, a derivative of the benzodiazepine series, which is being used more and more frequently on horses. In treated animals as compared to controls, we observe: -- a slight respiratory depression related solely to effort, -- an increase in seric creatine phosphokinase rate with no apparent relat...
