Horse owner alert: Bad Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis medication!
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) medication!
This information is provided by Dr. Robert MacKay, Veterinarian of UF Large Animal Medicine, Professor, DACVIM, PhD, BVSc (Dist). Dr. Robert MacKay has been featured in articles about EPM and at the American Association of Equine Practitioners conventions.
Horse Owner Alert
Eight Thoroughbred horses that were given a single dose of an EPM drug at a training stable in Ocala, FL had neurologic disturbances within 36 h of administration. Four had repeated severe generalized convulsions, one went down and couldn’t stand, and three had single or repeated mild convulsions but remained standing. One horse died during a seizure at the farm and the down horse was euthanized after being managed for two days at the University of Florida Large Animal Hospital. All the other horses have survived with intensive management but are showing additional signs including low blood counts and ulcers on the gums and tongue.
The EPM drug suspected of causing these problems is compounded toltrazuril/pyrimethamine from Wickliffe Pharmacy in Lexington, KY. Our equine veterinary specialists suspect there has been a serious overdose of pyrimethamine due to accidental misformulation, and all the surviving horses are now being given large doses of folic acid to combat the drug’s effects. Various drug analyses are in process.
Please note that this warning is only for this specific drug (pyrimethamine/toltrazuril) from this specific pharmacy (Wickliffe). Commercial EPM medicines are very safe; those from compounding pharmacies are usually safe but occasional errors may occur. If you or anyone who uses this drug (toltrazuril/pyrimethamine from Wickliffe) please warn them of the above. Specific lot numbers may be available from Wickliffe.
Additional Information
If you suspect your horse has been given this drug, contact your veterinarian or the UF Large Animal Hospital veterinarians at 352-392-2229 for more information.
** Addendum:
Below is a statement from Wickliffe Pharmacy:
STATEMENT FROM WICKLIFFE VETERINARY PHARMACY
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2014) – Wickliffe Veterinary Pharmacy is a well-respected provider of customized medicinal solutions for veterinarians and the animals in its care. Wickliffe adheres to the highest safety, quality and validation standards of the compounding pharmacy profession and follows all applicable state and federal guidelines. Wickliffe was recently informed of adverse events involving horses that received a Toltrazuril/Pyrimethamine suspension compounded at its pharmacy. There is no known correlation between Wickliffe’s compound and the reported adverse events.
Wickliffe is working cooperatively with health authorities to determine the cause of the adverse events as quickly as possible. Wickliffe has no indication that the preparation compounded at its pharmacy was unsafe in any way, or prepared other than as prescribed.
Wickliffe is committed to the health and safety of its patients. Wickliffe has a strong reputation of providing excellent preparations to the equine industry, and continues to do so. Wickliffe pledges its expertise and full efforts to collaborate with equine professionals in determining the cause of these adverse events.
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