Prascend for Horses - Pergolide - 1-mg (1 tablet) - [Cushing's Disease]

Prascend tablets are a veterinary medication used for the management of symptoms related to Equine Cushing's Disease (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, or PPID) in horses. Each tablet contains pergolide mesylate, which helps regulate the excessive production of certain hormones associated with PPID. This medication is essential for hormonal regulation and effective symptom management, addressing issues such as increased thirst and urination, weight loss, and abnormal coat growth. Prascend tablets are available in a convenient tablet form, making them easy to administer orally. Please note that Prascend tablets are a prescription-only veterinary medication, and should only be used under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian.

Key Features

• Pergolide Mesylate: Active ingredient that helps manage symptoms of Equine Cushing's Disease.
• Hormonal Regulation: Helps regulate the excessive production of certain hormones.
• Symptom Management: Addresses symptoms such as increased thirst and urination, weight loss, and abnormal coat growth.
• Tablet Form: Convenient and easy to administer orally.
• Veterinary Prescription Required: Available only with a prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

How It Works

Prascend contains the active ingredient, pergolide mesylate, which is a potent dopamine receptor agonist. It inhibits the release of prolactin, a hormone released by the pituitary gland. In horses with Equine Cushing's Disease, pergolide is believed to exert its therapeutic effect by stimulating dopamine receptors.

Indications

For the control of clinical signs associated with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (equine Cushing’s Disease) in horses.

Specifications:

• Active Ingredient: Pergolide mesylate
• Brand Name: Prascend
• Type: Oral tablet
• Available Strengths: 1 mg tablets
• Indicated for: Management of clinical signs associated with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (Cushing's disease) in horses
• Dosage Form: Tablet
• Administration: Administer orally once daily, preferably in the morning, with or without food
• Storage: Store at controlled room temperature (20-2°C, 68-77°F), excursions permitted between 15-30°C (59-86°F)
• Manufacturer: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Prescription Required: Yes, prescription-only medication. Must be prescribed by a veterinarian.

Pergolide

View Prascend Drug Facts Sheet.

Administer orally at a starting dose of 2 mcg/kg once daily. Dosage may be adjusted to effect, not to exceed 4 mcg/kg daily. It has been reported that pergolide tablets may cause eye irritation, an irritating smell, or headache when PRASCEND Tablets are split or crushed. PRASCEND Tablets should not be crushed due to the potential for increased human exposure and care should be taken to minimize exposure when splitting tablets. The tablets are scored and the calculated dosage should be provided to the nearest one-half tablet increment (see Table 1).

Dosing should be titrated according to individual response to therapy to achieve the lowest effective dose. Dose titration is based on improvement in clinical signs associated with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) and/or improvement or normalization of endocrine tests (for example, dexamethasone suppression test or endogenous ACTH test). If signs of dose intolerance develop, the dose should be decreased by half for 3 to 5 days and then titrated back up in 2 mcg/kg increments every 2 weeks until the desired effect is achieved.

Caution:

Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

Contraindications:

PRASCEND is contraindicated in horses with hypersensitivity to pergolide mesylate or other ergot derivatives.

Warnings:

Do not use in horses intended for human consumption.

Human Warnings:

Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. PRASCEND should not be administered by persons who have had adverse reactions to ergotamine or other ergot derivatives. Pregnant or lactating women should wear gloves when administering this product. It has been reported that pergolide tablets may cause eye irritation, an irritating smell, or headache when PRASCEND Tablets are split or crushed. PRASCEND Tablets should not be crushed due to the potential for increased human exposure and care should be taken to minimize exposure when splitting tablets. Consult a physician in case of accidental ingestion by humans.

Precautions:

Treatment with PRASCEND may cause inappetance.

The use of PRASCEND in breeding, pregnant, or lactating horses has not been evaluated. The effects of pergolide mesylate on breeding, pregnant, or lactating horses are not known; however, the pharmacologic action of pergolide mesylate suggests that it may interfere with reproductive functions such as lactation.

PRASCEND is approximately 90% associated with plasma proteins. Use caution if administering PRASCEND with other drugs that affect protein binding. Dopamine antagonists, such as neuroleptics (phenothiazines, domperidone) or metoclopramide, ordinarily should not be administered concurrently with PRASCEND (a dopamine agonist) since these agents may diminish the effectiveness of PRASCEND.

Animal Safety:

In a six month target animal safety study healthy adult horses received PRASCEND administered orally, once daily, at doses of either 0 mcg/kg, 4 mcg/kg, 6 mcg/kg, or 8 mcg/kg (0X, 1X, 1.5X, or 2X the maximum recommended dose). There were eight healthy horses (four males and four females) in each treatment group. Doses were prepared by dissolving tablets in approximately 10 mL of a 50% sugar water solution.

PRASCEND treated groups had lower mean heart rates and higher mean temperatures than the control group. Horses in all treatment groups had minimum heart rates within the normal range and maximum temperatures below 101.5°F. One 1.5X horse experienced a mild episode of spasmodic colic on Day 3 that resolved after treatment with flunixin meglumine.

Mean red blood cell counts and hemoglobin values were lower in PRASCEND treated groups as compared to the control group. Other hematology parameters including hematocrit, white blood cells, absolute neutrophils, and absolute lymphocytes exhibited mild, transient decreases as compared to the control group. The hematology parameters generally decreased over the first 30 to 60 days after treatment initiation and then returned to values similar to pre-treatment levels. No treatment related alterations were identified on histopathology evaluation of bone marrow.

Storage:

Store at or below 25°C (77°F).