POM-V Prescription Required

AceSedate 10 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Horses

Active ingredient: Acepromazine

Form

Injection

Species

Horses

Manufacturer

Zoetis UK Limited

VMD MA No.

42058/5219

What it's used for

Anaesthetic Premedication: Following acepromazine administration, the amount of anaesthetic necessary to induce anaesthesia is considerably reduced. This r...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

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Paying less for Acepromazine

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

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Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

AceSedate 10 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Horses — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 26 Mar 2026.

Anaesthetic Premedication: Following acepromazine administration, the amount of
anaesthetic necessary to induce anaesthesia is considerably reduced. This reduction is
approximately one-third of a suitable induction agent.
Tranquilisation: Acepromazine tranquilisation (ataraxy) involves a modification of
temperament which is not associated with hypnosis, narcosis or marked sedation. This
is achieved with low doses of acepromazine. At low doses, acepromazine reduces
anxiety which is beneficial for use in horses prior to shoeing or transportation.
Sedation: At higher dose rates acepromazine is an effective sedative, as an adjunct to,
or replacement for, physical restraint e.g. dentistry, handling and shoeing. The relaxant
effects aid examination of the penis in horses and the treatment of tetanus and choke.

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02807/2025

By intramuscular injection: 0.03 - 0.10 mg per kg bodyweight. Approximately equivalent
to 0.15 - 0.5 ml of 10 mg/ml injection per 50 kg (approx. 1 cwt) bodyweight.
By intravenous injection: As for intramuscular, except that it is recommended the injection
is made slowly.
Normally, single doses of acepromazine are administered. Long term use is not
recommended. On the rare occasions that repeat dosing is required, the dosing interval
should be 36 - 48 hours.
Take adequate precautions to maintain sterility. Avoid the introduction of contamination

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02807/2025
during use. Should any apparent growth or discolouration occur, discard the product.
The closure may be safely punctured up to 38 times.

Do not administer to breeding stallions. Paralysis of the retractor penis muscle has been
associated with the use of parenterally administered acepromazine in horses.
Do not use this product in conjunction with organophosphates and/or procaine
hydrochloride, as it may enhance activity and potential toxicity.
Do not, in any circumstances, ride horses within the 36 hours following administration of
the product.
See section 4.7

Acepromazine has caused paraphimosis, sometimes as a sequel to priapism. When
extrusion of the penis occurs, the owner should be advised to inform his veterinary
surgeon if retraction of the penis does not take place within 2 - 3 hours. Suitable
treatments have been described in the veterinary literature e.g. manual compression
during the period of general anaesthesia, penile support and manual compression, use
of an Esmarch bandage.
Accidental intracarotid injection in horses can produce clinical signs ranging from
disorientation to convulsive seizures and death.

Duration of action may be prolonged and this should be remembered when riding, as
acepromazine may affect performance and appear in drug tests for some time.
Acepromazine has little, if any, analgesic effect so that painful procedures must be
avoided, particularly where animals are known to have unpredictable temperaments.
Therefore, the usual precautions should be maintained when handling sedated horses.
During sedation, horses will normally retain visual and auditory acuity, so that loud sounds
and rapid movements may cause arousal from the sedated state. It is therefore important
to keep treated horses in a quiet environment and avoid sensory stimulation as far as
possible.
Take adequate precautions to maintain sterility.
Avoid the introduction of contamination during use. Should any apparent growth or
discolouration occur, discard the product.

Special precautions for use in animals
Situations may arise where general anaesthesia is required in the 4 - 6 hours following
use of the product. In such cases care should be taken to reduce the induction dose of
other premedicants and anaesthetic agents, particularly parenteral barbiturates, so as
to avoid potentiation and additive depressant effects.
When administered to male horses (geldings or stallions), use the lowest dose
recommended to produce the required effect.
Acepromazine is an adrenoceptor blocking drug and this causes hypotension and
lowered p.c.v. The product should therefore be administered with great caution, and at
low dose rates only to debilitated horses and animals in states of hypovolaemia, anaemia
and shock, or with cardiovascular disease. Rehydration should precede acepromazine
administration.

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02807/2025
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals
This product contains a potent sedative; care should be taken when handling and
administering this product to avoid accidental self-exposure. In case of accidental self-
injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to
the physician but DO NOT DRIVE as sedation may occur. Symptomatic treatment may
be required.
This product may cause irritation of skin and eyes. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. If
accidental eye contact occurs, flush gently with fresh running water for 15 minutes and
seek medical advice if any irritation persists. In the event of accidental skin contact,
wash the contaminated area with large amounts of soap and water. Medical advice
should be sought if irritation persists.
Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after use.

Tranquilisers are additive to the actions of other depressants and will potentiate general
anaesthesia (see section 4.2, indications for use).

Do not store above 25°C.
Following withdrawal of the first dose, use remainder of the product within 28 days.
Discard unused material.
Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Do not freeze.

Not authorised for use in horses intended for human consumption.
5.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.