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Equine veterinary journal1988; 20(5); 331-334; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb01540.x

Combined use of detomidine with opiates in the horse.

Abstract: The effects of administration of one of four opiates (pethidine 1 mg/kg bodyweight (bwt), morphine 0.1 mg/kg bwt, methadone 0.1 mg/kg bwt, and butorphanol 0.05 mg/kg bwt) given intravenously to horses and ponies already sedated with detomidine (10 micrograms/kg bwt) were investigated. Behavioural, cardiovascular and respiratory effects of the combinations were compared with those occurring with detomidine alone. Addition of the opiate increased the apparent sedation and decreased the response of the animal to external stimuli. At doses used, butorphanol produced the most reliable response. Side effects seen were increased ataxia (greatest following methadone and butorphanol) and excitement (usually muzzle tremors and muscle twitching). Following pethidine, generalised excitement was sometimes seen. Marked cardiovascular changes occurred in the first few minutes after morphine or pethidine injection, but within 5 mins cardiovascular changes were minimal. Following morphine or pethidine there was a significant increase in arterial carbon dioxide tension. Fourteen clinical cases were successfully sedated using detomidine/butorphanol combinations.
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Publication Date: 1988-09-01 PubMed ID: 3181117DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb01540.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the combined use of four different types of opiates (pethidine, morphine, methadone, and butorphanol) with detomidine in horses and ponies. The study analyses their behavioral, cardiovascular and respiratory responses, highlighting butorphanol as producing the most reliable results.

Overview of the Research

  • The research involved the administration of four different types of opiates (pethidine, morphine, methadone, and butorphanol) to horses and ponies that have already been sedated with detomidine.
  • The main object of the study was to observe and document the behavioral, cardiovascular, and respiratory effects when an opiate is added to detomidine, in comparison to using detomidine on its own.

Effects of Opiates Combined with Detomidine

  • The study found that the addition of an opiate to a detomidine sedation increased the level of apparent sedation and decreased the animal’s response to external stimuli.
  • Among all the opiates tested, butorphanol produced the most reliable response, meaning it consistently yielded the desired result of increased sedation and decreased response.

Side Effects Observed

  • Some side effects were observed, particularly increased ataxia (lack of muscle control or coordination) and excitement (shown by signs like muzzle tremors and muscle twitching).
  • These side effects were most notable following the administration of methadone and butorphanol.
  • Pethidine occasionally resulted in generalized excitement in the animals.

Cardiovascular Changes

  • Significant cardiovascular changes were observed within the first few moments after the injection of morphine or pethidine. However, these changes were minimal after 5 minutes.
  • Notably, there was a significant increase in arterial carbon dioxide tension following morphine or pethidine administration.

Detomidine/Butorphanol Combinations in Clinical Cases

  • A total of fourteen clinical cases were successfully sedated using a combination of detomidine and butorphanol, highlighting its potential efficacy in a practical setting.

Cite This Article

APA
Clarke KW, Paton BS. (1988). Combined use of detomidine with opiates in the horse. Equine Vet J, 20(5), 331-334. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb01540.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 20
Issue: 5
Pages: 331-334

Researcher Affiliations

Clarke, K W
  • Department of Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Herts.
Paton, B S

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
    • Blood Pressure / drug effects
    • Butorphanol / administration & dosage
    • Butorphanol / pharmacology
    • Heart Rate / drug effects
    • Horses / physiology
    • Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
    • Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
    • Imidazoles / administration & dosage
    • Imidazoles / pharmacology
    • Meperidine / administration & dosage
    • Meperidine / pharmacology
    • Methadone / administration & dosage
    • Methadone / pharmacology
    • Morphine / administration & dosage
    • Morphine / pharmacology
    • Narcotics / administration & dosage
    • Narcotics / pharmacology
    • Pulmonary Gas Exchange / drug effects

    Citations

    This article has been cited 13 times.
    1. Nannarone S, Giannettoni G, Laurenza C, Giontella A, Moretti G. Methadone or Butorphanol as Pre-Anaesthetic Agents Combined with Romifidine in Horses Undergoing Elective Surgery: Qualitative Assessment of Sedation and Induction. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 31;11(9).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11092572pubmed: 34573538google scholar: lookup
    2. Gozalo-Marcilla M, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Johnston M, Taylor PM, Redondo JI. Data Collection for the Fourth Multicentre Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities (CEPEF4) Study: New Technology and Preliminary Results. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 30;11(9).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11092549pubmed: 34573515google scholar: lookup
    3. Straticò P, Carluccio A, Varasano V, Guerri G, Suriano R, Robbe D, Cerasoli I, Petrizzi L. Analgesic Effect of Butorphanol during Castration in Donkeys under Total Intravenous Anaesthesia. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 9;11(8).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11082346pubmed: 34438803google scholar: lookup
    4. Troya-Portillo L, López-Sanromán J, Villalba-Orero M, Santiago-Llorente I. Cardiorespiratory, Sedative and Antinociceptive Effects of a Medetomidine Constant Rate Infusion with Morphine, Ketamine or Both. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 13;11(7).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11072081pubmed: 34359209google scholar: lookup
    5. Müller TM, Hopster K, Bienert-Zeit A, Rohn K, Kästner SBR. Effect of butorphanol, midazolam or ketamine on romifidine based sedation in horses during standing cheek tooth removal. BMC Vet Res 2017 Dec 6;13(1):381.
      doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1299-6pubmed: 29212478google scholar: lookup
    6. Herteman N, Bullone M, Lavoie JP. Endoscopic Evaluation of Angiogenesis in the Large Airways of Horses with Heaves Using Narrow Band Imaging. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):671-4.
      doi: 10.1111/jvim.13890pubmed: 26926661google scholar: lookup
    7. Conde Ruiz C, Cruz Benedetti IC, Guillebert I, Portier KG. Effect of Pre- and Postoperative Phenylbutazone and Morphine Administration on the Breathing Response to Skin Incision, Recovery Quality, Behavior, and Cardiorespiratory Variables in Horses Undergoing Fetlock Arthroscopy: A Pilot Study. Front Vet Sci 2015;2:58.
      doi: 10.3389/fvets.2015.00058pubmed: 26664985google scholar: lookup
    8. Casoni D, Spadavecchia C, Wampfler B, Thormann W, Levionnois OL. Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of S-ketamine for intravenous general anaesthesia in horses undergoing field castration. Acta Vet Scand 2015 May 3;57(1):21.
      doi: 10.1186/s13028-015-0112-4pubmed: 25935721google scholar: lookup
    9. Taylor PM, Hoare HR, de Vries A, Love EJ, Coumbe KM, White KL, Murrell JC. A multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical trial to compare some perioperative effects of buprenorphine or butorphanol premedication before equine elective general anaesthesia and surgery. Equine Vet J 2016 Jul;48(4):442-50.
      doi: 10.1111/evj.12442pubmed: 25772950google scholar: lookup
    10. Bauquier SH, Kona-Boun JJ. [Comparison of the effects of xylazine and romifidine administered perioperatively on the recovery of anesthetized horses]. Can Vet J 2011 Sep;52(9):987-93.
      pubmed: 22379199
    11. Nyman G, Marntell S, Edner A, Funkquist P, Morgan K, Hedenstierna G. Effect of sedation with detomidine and butorphanol on pulmonary gas exchange in the horse. Acta Vet Scand 2009 May 7;51(1):22.
      doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-51-22pubmed: 19422714google scholar: lookup
    12. Thorn CA, Wilson DV, Wang S, Horne WA. Impact of sequential administration of detomidine, butorphanol, and midazolam on sedation, ataxia, stimulus response, and bispectral index in horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1691137.
      doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1691137pubmed: 41200548google scholar: lookup
    13. Straticò P, Guerri G, Bandera L, Celani G, Di Nunzio L, Petrizzi L, Varasano V. Comparison of Xylazine and Lidocaine Infusion versus Medetomidine Continuous Rate Infusion during General Anesthesia with Isoflurane in Horses Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy. Vet Sci 2024 Apr 29;11(5).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci11050196pubmed: 38787168google scholar: lookup
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