Adequan - how long does it last?

[gracecatherine14]

I started my 19 year old on adequan back in April, he was showing signs of lameness and I thought he needed his yearly injections done, and had the vet out. He seemed very sound so the vet opted to wait to do injections, but I chatted with him about adequan to try to help since he has good days and bad days. I did the 7 shot series over the course of the month and finished around April 22nd.

At first I thought it made a difference for him, the first couple shots I felt he was more comfortable, but as the series progressed the changes I saw kinda faded away. By the end, I didn’t feel much difference and decided to hold on doing the monthly maintenance dose because I wasn’t sure if it was really working for him.

My question, how long does it normally last for them for me to tell if it’s worth it? It’s now been a little over a month since I did the 7 shots and he’s been having some bad days of stiffness and soreness. I’ve heard some people say the monthly shot per month doesn’t do anything and just opt for the twice a year series so shouldn’t the Adequan still be helping him at this stage? I’m trying to figure out if I should try it again to see if it helps or if it just doesn’t work for him based on what I’m seeing.

[cnd8]

Well you are doing what they recommend now–the loading dose every 6 months. I would think you’d still be feeling progress if it was the right choice for him. I wonder if Pentosan would work better for your guy? Or Polyglycan? I have read articles comparing the purposes of each of these options, but I can’t seem to locate them quickly to share here. Depending on what is going on in the joints, one may work better than the other for you. I’d ask your vet if they could suggest an alternative. Although, I’d probably disagree with the vet given this description and say it is time for new IA injections.

[scrbear11]

Adequan stays in the joint for four days. That’s it.

The monthly dose does little other than making your horse comfortable for four days.

[cnd8]

Are you thinking of Legend?

[gracecatherine14]

That’s what I figure too, I’ve heard mixed things about it working for some and not others so I’m definitely looking into other options. It’s also been horribly dry and hard ground here so that doesn’t help either. I just was unsure of how long it stayed in the system since some people do the monthly and some do the loading dose twice a year…makes things not so simple

[Feathered_Feet]

My trainer has seen remarkable things from Legend, but not Adequan. They work differently so it makes sense that, depending on each horse’s specific issue, one might work and not the other. Might be worth giving Legend a try.

[joiedevie99]

If your horse was going to react well to Adequan, I’d expect you’d still be seeing improvements at 4 weeks. At a minimum, I’d expect you to have maintained the gains you saw during the loading dose 4 weeks out.

[CindyCRNA]

My guys get 28 day rounds every 6 months and my eventer get a shot every 2 weeks and my jumper once a month in between and we have had great results. My jumper would stock up if in a stall more than 2 days and now he doesn’t and my eventer is tracking better behind. They also get heaping scoops od Cosequin ASU Plus.

[BraveSC]

I just went through this with my gelding and did the loading dose of Adequan and didn’t feel much difference at all. It is my understanding that Adequan targets the cartilage where as Legend targets the actual joint space. I have seen a remarkable difference with my guy on the generic Legend (MaP 5) than I did with Adequan. May be an option for your guy too!

[Obsidian_Fire]

At 19, I think you are past the point where Adequan or Legend are really worth it. I would opt for IA injections.
My personal thinking is that Adequan, Legend, Pentosan, etc., are best used in a more ‘preventative’ setting. Not saying they can’t be helpful, perhaps ‘in addition to’ joint injections…maybe you get more mileage out of the steroid injections.

[gracecatherine14]

That’s what I think too. My vet when I brought it up I think felt similarly but I did want to try to see if it would at least just give him a little more relief between injections he gets yearly. Kinda one of those things where I figure you don’t know unless you try I’m looking into upgrading his oral supplements to see if that will give him a little extra relief, which i know are a bit controversial if they actually work or not but, won’t hurt to try

[gracecatherine14]

That’s good to know! It was one of those things for me where I thought I felt a difference because I knew he was getting it, but when I really stopped to think I realized it wasn’t doing it for him.

[sorrelfilly721]

My vet prescribed it one injection every two weeks. I do notice a difference for the first week to 10 days after injection. She doesn’t rest her foot when standing and uses the leg much better under saddle. Also, no dragging her toe.

[joiedevie99]

@gracecatherine14

My vet when I brought it up I think felt similarly but I did want to try to see if it would at least just give him a little more relief between injections he gets yearl

Yearly IA injections may not be frequent enough. I’d talk to your vet about trying a shorter cycle - maybe 9 months.

[gracecatherine14]

I normally do around every 9-12 months, I just can tell when he needs it so it’s not quite a set schedule. I just sat yearly to make it easy that’s what kinda has been working for him as of late but I am very much open to doing it more frequently if needed so long as it’s not excessive

[nlf212]

From everything that I have read, Adequan is just palliative care vs actually disease modifying. Might be worth looking into something that will help for longer than just a few days