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  Discussion on Prednisolone & Aggressiveness
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Member:
Halln5

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 15, 2003 - 5:11 pm:

I had a post recently in another thread re: a bite wound perpetrated by a horse who is on prednisolone for heaves. A friend questioned me as to whether it is possible that this horse's aggressiveness toward my other horse might be a side effect of the pred. Is this a known side effect of prednisolone? This horse is not the least bit aggressive toward people and has never shown this behavior toward other horses I had previously. I figured it was just a personality conflict, but now I wonder. Any thoughts?
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 15, 2003 - 7:09 pm:

I can't say for sure... BUT I am convinced my dog is more aggressive after a long term steroid use... Isn't prednisolone like prednisone? and thats what she was on....

The aggressiveness didn't disappear either.... It could be a coincindence, but i put the two together immediately and my vet had confirmed it was possible but no real conclusive evidence.

I don't know about horses... Hopefully not...

jojo
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jan 16, 2003 - 6:23 am:

I think it is possible though not a common effect. If the horses testosterone receptors are very sensitive they may be stimulated by the prednisolone. They are both steroids. It is not usual for the change to be permanant joj and I suspect your dog learned some behaviors that he found rewarding.

On the other hand the behavior you describe Vicki is common in almost every horse that lives in a band: there are those they give deference to and those they threaten, it is the natural way of horses. If the pred was causing increased agressiveness, a more dependable sign would be a more generalized aggressive response.
DrO
New Member:
Maureane

Posted on Thursday, Jan 16, 2003 - 7:43 am:

I seem to remember reading somewhere -- which, of course, makes it true :-) -- that horses to do not metabolize prednisolone to the active steroid. Therefore, prednisolone had little or no therapeutic effect in horses. This is different from humans and at least some other animals. Thus, I was advised not to use prednisolone in horses, but rather to use something like dexamethasone. Dr. O have you heard anything like this?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jan 16, 2003 - 11:19 am:

Yes Maureane but you don't have it quite right. Prednisolone is the active form. A commonly available drug is prednisone which is inactive until converted by the liver: this is the form that horses do not use well. Prednisolone has a proven record of absorption and efficacy. For more on this issue see, » Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Anti-inflammatories, Steroids, and Arthritis Treatment » Overview of the Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs.
DrO
Member:
Halln5

Posted on Thursday, Jan 16, 2003 - 7:14 pm:

Yes, Dr. O, I know you are right, I was just grasping at straws. I had hoped there was an explanation for why this one horse would be so hateful toward the other one. It is not his normal demeanor toward other horses, just this one. When these two are together, they start out just playing mostly. Then this one just loses patience and attacks. It is a vicious attack, too. Anyway, I know that we, living beings in this world, don't seem to be able to all get along with each other. Wouldn't it be nice though if we could?
Member:
Fototrop

Posted on Monday, Mar 10, 2003 - 1:25 pm:

Prednisone is definitely associated with some very nasty side effects in people that include aggression (read that, rage) and psychotic suicidal depression. I know that horses are not people, but I would be very careful with prednisone. I was on it less than a week and was almost confined to a psychiatric hospital due to the psychological side effects.
And... what about the term "roid rage"? I know that the steroids used on race horses are thought by many to be associated with and increase in aggression.
Pam
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 11, 2003 - 6:50 am:

Several comments Pamela, first prednisone itself has no effect in the horse because they do not convert it to the active compound prednisolone, but lets assume your comments apply to the active form.

Though mild behavorial effects in humans are common, the side effects you describe are rare in one of the most commonly prescribed medications in medicine today. When they do occur they are rarely the prednisolone itself attributed to such conditions and usually associated with other serious diseases and psychosis or very high doses.

Roid rage mainly refers to the effects of anabolic or male steroids not the corticosteroid group. This is also the true of the aggression problem in horses receiving anabolic steroids. I know of no reports and had no experiences with corticosteroid induced psychosis or even aggression reported in horses.

However Pamela your point of being careful with the use of steroids or any drug is absolutly true and always the benefit versus the risk must be balanced.
DrO
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