Often dealing with horses you run into situations where mild long term yet mild sedation would help. This could be to help both you and the horse to deal with situations that are adverse to the horse but, hopefully, either the situation or behavior is temporary. For example:

• prolonged stall rest
• separation of a best buddy
• foal rejection by a mare
• initial aggression when introducing new horses
• unusually excitable or resistant while ridden
• chronic pain?

Fluphenazine, brand name Prolixin, is an example of such a medication that has about a 15-year history of unlabeled use in horses, yet very little is written about it in horses. Fluphenazine is a member of the large group of drugs known as neuroleptics, which have their principal effect on brain function. Neuroleptics differ from other sedatives in that patients are easily arousable and will respond when stimulated. Neuroleptics suppress spontaneous motor activity, conditioned avoidance, and aggressive behavior, but (hopefully) do not induce ataxia or incoordination at usual doses. This article puts together what is known about this drug in humans, adds the little bit of published material about fluphenazine use in horses, adds some anecdotal material, and then makes some recommendations on use and provides some guidelines on the treatment of adverse reactions.

There are several problems with fluphenazine and other long acting sedatives and neuroleptics. First is there appears to be a low therapeutic to toxicity index. This means that the frequently used dosages result in a high rate of adverse reactions. The particular reaction depends on the particular drug. Individual horses seem to have a widely varying capacity to tolerate these drugs.

The next problem is the potential of abuse with these drugs. For example say the local horse trader, Old Buck, has a horse, Dynamite, that has been less than a training success. No matter what Old Buck tries, Dynamite is . . . dynamite. A rodeo owners dream. After Old Buck gets his arm set, again, he considers his circumstance. He paid little for Dynamite but he still has that monthly payment on that used diesel truck out back and while his arm mends money is going to be tight.

Buck calls the vet up and explains he has got this horse that he needs just a little help training. Doc, what have you got that will take a little of the “nitro” out of the Dynamite? Before you know it Dynamite purrs like a kitten. In fact, Dynamite is now called Kitten, and off to the new horse owner Kitten goes. The drugs wears off over the next few weeks and Kitten becomes a tiger again, and so it goes. Note well: the most common reason newly purchased horses go bad is the owner is over-mounted. Too much horse and too little horseman. Also, note well: most horse sellers I know are honorable folk.

In spite of all these problems there are legitimate needs for medications of this type and reserpine and fluphenazine are the most often used.