Depo Provera/Medroxyprogesterone questions

[alterchicken]

Wanted to try this on a couple of geldings and a couple of mares. Geldings who are studdy (like mounting mares, very dominant behaviour with horses and people, spooky and very reactive under saddle) and mares that are super grumpy, don’t want to work while in season.

Vet says that Depo does NOT work at all in a lot of mares and I’ve read some studies to that effect. I’m not particularly trying to keep them from cycling, I’m looking to alleviate the personality symptoms.

He does say it works well in geldings and recommended it.

I ended up buying a bottle of 200mg/ml online as it was a lot cheaper than getting it from the vet. But I’m a bit embarrassed now to ask for dosages from him as I don’t want to tick him off that I bought it elsewhere.

So could anyone relate what dosage they find effective for geldings and for mares and what bodyweight they are dosing and how frequently? A couple are horses and a couple are ponies. I’ve done an exhaustive search online but can’t seem to narrow down dosages.

And how have you found the effects for both mares and for geldings?

TIA

[Serah]

I find it works better on the geldings and my vet told me to start with 6cc and redose if no change in a week, I give most 10cc a month.

[dodedo]

With the 200mg/ml I would start at 5ml and if you do not see a change then you can ramp it up maybe a ml at a time weekly until you notice it works… I give between 8 and 10 monthly. Kind of a sliding scale and base the dose and time frame between doses on how he acts. I started ofwith 10 and have dropped down to between 6 and 8. My guy is 1300 lbs. 16.3 hands…

[M_Owen]

My mare gets 10 cc about every 3.5-4 weeks.

Where did you get a good price and how much? always looking to save a couple bucks.

[M_O_Connor]

I find it astonishing that you would ask this kind of question on an internet forum.

Any hormones need to be handled with extreme care by humans, and should be administered only under direct veterinary supervision.

That is completely aside from the question of why you are experiencing behavior problems with an entire group of horses, both mares AND geldings. Maybe a management problem, rather than a hormonal one?

[Concetta]

I give my gelding 10cc’s of 200mg/ml once a month IM …and I also like giving Mare Magic(raspberry leaves to both the mares and geldings that need it)

I haven’t given depo to my mares as they don’t seem to need it…however I’ve heard that ReguMate comes in injectable form and works a lot better than depo in some cases for mares…much more expensive though I believe

[kmwines01]

I’d discuss this with your vet. Explain to him you bought it cheaper and why. But he/she needs to know your horses are on it. And they can assist you with the dosing way more accurately than strangers on a forum. I would also be very very careful looking on the internet. You may be finding non reputable sources or papers that are using it for different reasons and so are using extreme doses.

And hopefully you got the actual meds from a good place where you can actually feel comfortable using the products.

[Mardi]

@M. O'Connor;6269715

I find it astonishing that you would ask this kind of question on an internet forum.

And equally astonishing are the replies with recommended dosings for horses they’ve not examined.

[dodedo]

You all are right…

[omare]

To be accurate other posters have only stated the dosage their horse are getting I do not think anyone has recommended a dosage for OP.

[dodedo]

[QUOTE=omare;6269984]
To be accurate other posters have only stated the dosage their horse are getting I do not think anyone has recommended a dosage for OP.[/QUOTE]

And you are exactly right! This BB always brings out the interesting side of some personalities! Those that have had GREAT success with using some of these pharmaceuticals after they are endorsed by a currently licensed Vet are willing to share what has worked on many different horses at different times of the year, in different situations, for different reasons, at different concentrations of active ingredients, and at different dosages. MOA of what you are giving, potential AE’s, and risk vs benefit…some of the many details to be knowledgable of, and that goes for PO, IM, IV and all other routes of administration.

[rockfordbuckeye]

The dosages are all given in “cc” and I would like to also point out that depending on the concentration (mg/mL) that the compounding pharmacy makes the product at - one horses “10cc” dose might not be the same as another’s as far as actual miligram dose amount delivered by that volume.

When it comes to medications, a volume (cc or mL) is rarely an appropriate unit to communicate a dose in as far as being clear and safe.

[Horsegal984]

Why not just seperated the mares and the geldings? Mounting problem solved. As far as the rest, your vet did not recommend it for your mares but now you’re looking to an Internet bb to tell you what dose to use for them? Maybe the mares are pissy because they’re tired of having geldin mounting them all the time. Maybe they have a legitimate reason to feel like crap when they’re cycling. Trying to just mask the behavioral issues without treatin the underlying problems isn’t fair to them and will likely bite you in the behind in the long run.

[dodedo]

[QUOTE=rockfordbuckeye;6270101]
The dosages are all given in “cc” and I would like to also point out that depending on the concentration (mg/mL) that the compounding pharmacy makes the product at - one horses “10cc” dose might not be the same as another’s as far as actual miligram dose amount delivered by that volume.

When it comes to medications, a volume (cc or mL) is rarely an appropriate unit to communicate a dose in as far as being clear and safe.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely! How about the example of the big stars twins in a big name hospital being given the wrong dose of heparin by mistake. Medication error big time. Gave huge overdose because there are enormous differences in concentrations of heparin in vials and someone didn’t read a label and gave babies x volume of x concentration when it should have been x volume of y concentration…but, the med the op asks about is pretty benign and with proper vet advice will need trial and adjustment to get the right dosage on board. Take everyone’s opinions on this board for what they are…opinions!

[M_O_Connor]

The OP hopes what was received was accurately manufactured-refer to the horrible polo pony incident of a couple years ago to see how that can go tragically wrong.

[judybigredpony]

The dosages are all given in “cc” and I would like to also point out that depending on the concentration (mg/mL) that the compounding pharmacy makes the product at - one horses “10cc” dose might not be the same as another’s as far as actual miligram dose amount delivered by that volume.

It comes in 10 and 20ml concentration (?) doses so that makes the injectiable amount diffent by 50% and the cost.

Prescription not needed and no special handling instructions since you don’t physical come into contact unless you have an accident. It is an IM injection. As far as messing with hormones giveing Medroxyprogesterone to a gelding there really isn’t any long term harm for making them aggressive and good potential for a nicer minded horse. I sure wouldn’t use it on a mare.

I have used Reguamte on Stallions in 1/2 doeses to settle the libido for showing and know “Fact” some Breeding Farms routinly use it in non breeding season for same. It has been tested and proven NOT to affect fertility and ceasing use will quickly return horses libido to normal.

I with Vets full knowled will use Medroxyprogesterone AFTER castration to help settle a horse into gelding mode with excellant tried and true results.

ReguMate comes in injectable form and works a lot better than depo in some cases for mares…much more expensive though I believe

If I remember the correct name is Altergest its a 1cc IM injection weekly or every 10 days depending on how your mare cycles. Its about a 6 week dose and costs approx $140 bottle but don’t hold me to that it maybe $240. I haven’t ordered any in 6 months and am not currently usisng it on any one. But I did like it alot, so much easier to use. And I found it way more cost effective than Regumate.

But I never mix my herds w/ mares and geldings they all have their own fields and w/ exception to deep winter when no one is cycling for short durations on my farm its a No No contact and we have double fence rows as well. I even try to keep mares in one barn and geldings in another. but that a luxory of my set up and I know not everyone can do that.

[rockfordbuckeye]

[QUOTE=judybigredpony;6271625]
It comes in 10 and 20ml concentration (?) doses so that makes the injectiable amount diffent by 50% and the cost.[/QUOTE]

Concentration is not a volume alone. Concentration is the amount of actual drug (and this amount is in a weight unit like “miligram” or “gram” or “microgram”) PER a volume of measurement.

So any given compounding pharmacy could make medroxyprogesterone in any particular concentration if they had a recipe for it and stability information. It could be 40mg/mL, 200mg/mL etc. So thus again I am saying a “dose” of 10cc (please use the term “mL” or mililiter instead of “CC” to be safer as the two “C’s” in CC can be mistaken for zeros and lead to errors) could be anywhere from 400mg to 2000mg. Do you understand the safety issue there?

This is why licensed veternarians should be involved in this process. They are trained to do this and can help you safely treat your horses. If cost is an issue and you don’t want to buy FROM your vet, I’m still sure any caring vet would prefer to be asked and help you with what you buy online as far as dose selection, than not be involved at all and have harm happen to an animal.

[judybigredpony]

Rockford I agree…mine comes from a Vet pharmacey where I have an account, and yes my Vet knows I buy it from another source since she can’t buy it any cheaper herself.

You do need to know the concentration to give an accurate dose though which is why I mentioned that and OP should check the bottle.
If it is properly labeled and and bought from a Brand name supplier she should be OK.

Its not Crack for crying out load and OP should just read the label and call the vet…he did if you read the post recommend the drug for her geldings…and ask the dosage

[alteringwego]

Just confirmed with USEF a couple days ago that medroxy and depo are forbidden substances in geldings. FYI!

[STA]

[QUOTE=M. O’Connor;6269715]
I find it astonishing that you would ask this kind of question on an internet forum.

Any hormones need to be handled with extreme care by humans, and should be administered only under direct veterinary supervision.

That is completely aside from the question of why you are experiencing behavior problems with an entire group of horses, both mares AND geldings. Maybe a management problem, rather than a hormonal one?[/QUOTE]
Not only is the quote above right on point, but there are potential SERIOUS side effects from using Depo. I would be very careful and speak with the Vet, he is not going to care that much you bought the product somewhere else.