POM-V Prescription Required

Domosedan Gel 7.6 mg/ml Oromucosal Gel

Active ingredient: Detomidine Hydrochloride

Form

Gel

Species

Horses

Manufacturer

Orion Corporation

VMD MA No.

06043/4001

What it's used for

naso-gastric tube, radiography, rasping teeth) and minor husbandry procedures (e.g. clipping, shoeing). AN: 02691/2024 & 02693/2024

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

The prescription itself has a price. See what practices near you charge for a consultation and the written prescription fee.

Paying less for Detomidine Hydrochloride

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.

Your prescription rights → VMD register of retailers →

Prescription required

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

Clinical information

Domosedan Gel 7.6 mg/ml Oromucosal Gel — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

naso-gastric tube, radiography, rasping teeth) and minor husbandry procedures (e.g.
clipping, shoeing).
AN: 02691/2024 & 02693/2024

The veterinary medicinal product is administered sublingually at 40µg/kg. The dosing
syringe delivers the veterinary medicinal product in 0.25 ml increments. The following
dosing table provides the dose volume to be administered for the corresponding body
weight in 0.25ml increments.
Approximate body
weight (kg)Dose volume (ml)
150-1991.00200-2491.25250-2991.50300-3491.75350-3992.00400-4492.25450-4992.50500-5492.75550-6003.00
Instructions for dosing:
Apply impermeable gloves and remove the syringe from the outer carton. While
holding the plunger, turn the ring-stop on the plunger until the ring is able to slide
freely up and down the plunger. Position the ring in such a way that the side nearest
the barrel is at the desired volume marking. Turn the ring to secure it in place.
Make sure that the horse’s mouth contains no feed. Remove the cap from the tip of
the syringe and save for cap replacement. Insert the syringe tip into the horse’s
mouth from the side of the mouth, placing the syringe tip beneath the tongue at the
level of the corner of the mouth. Depress the plunger until the ring-stop contacts the
barrel, depositing the veterinary medicinal product under the tongue.
Take the syringe out of the horse’s mouth, recap the syringe and return it to the outer
carton for disposal. Remove and discard gloves or wash them in copious quantities
of running water.
Should there be a substantial misdosing or swallowing of the veterinary medicinal
product (e.g. the horse spits out or swallows more than an estimated 25% of
administered dose), immediate replacement dosing of the lost portion should be
attempted with care to avoid accidental overdosing. For animals in which the
administered dose results in inadequate duration of sedation to complete the
intended procedure, re-administration of the veterinary medicinal product during the
procedure may not be practical since transmucosal absorption is too slow to top-up
the sedation. In such cases, a lip twitch may facilitate restraint. Alternatively, a
veterinarian can administer additional injectable sedatives according to their clinical
discretion.
AN: 02691/2024 & 02693/2024

Do not use in seriously ill animals with heart failure or impaired liver or kidney
function.
Do not use in conjunction with intravenous potentiated sulphonamides.
Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the
excipients.

Horses:
Very common
(>1 animal / 10 animals
treated):
Ataxia

Common
(1 to 10 animals / 100
animals treated):
Heart block
Hypersalivation
Nasal discharge
Increased urination
Penile prolapse
Increased sweating
Piloerection
Uncommon
(1 to 10 animals / 1 000
animals treated):
Epiphora
Flatulence
Tongue oedema
Allergic oedema
AN: 02691/2024 & 02693/2024
Oedema
2,3
Muscle tremor
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10 000
animals treated):
Colic
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10 000
animals treated,
including isolated
reports):
Application site erythema
Bradycardia
Hypersensitivity reaction
Hyperventilation
Respiratory depression
Excitation
Pale mucous membrane
resulting from changes in the conductivity of cardiac muscle
due to continued lowering of the head during sedation
of head and face
due to continued lowering of the head during sedation
may be observed 2 to 4 hours after treatment
partial, transient, in stallions and geldings
mild, due to inhibition of intestinal motility.
transient
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or the national competent authority via the
national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

Unlike most other oral veterinary medicinal products, this veterinary medicinal
product is not meant to be swallowed. Instead, it must be placed under the tongue of
the horse. When the veterinary medicinal product is administered, the animal should
be allowed to rest in a quiet place. Before any procedure is initiated, sedation should
be allowed to fully develop (approximately 30 min).

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
Horses approaching or in endotoxic or traumatic shock, or horses suffering from
cardiac diseases, advanced lung disease, or fever should only be treated according
to the benefit risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian. Protect treated horses
from extreme temperatures. Some horses, although apparently deeply sedated, may
still respond to external stimuli.
Food and water should be withheld until the sedative effect of the veterinary
medicinal product has worn off.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
Detomidine is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, which may cause sedation,
somnolence, decreased blood pressure and decreased heart rate in humans.
Veterinary medicinal product residues may be present on the barrel and plunger of
the oral dosage syringe, or on the lips of horses, after sublingual administration.
The veterinary medicinal product may cause local skin irritation following prolonged
skin contact. Avoid contact with mucosal membranes and skin. Personal protective
equipment consisting of impermeable gloves should be worn to prevent skin contact.
As the syringe may be smeared with the veterinary medicinal product after
application, the syringe should be carefully re-capped and returned into the outer
carton for disposal. In the case of exposure, wash exposed skin and/or mucous
membranes immediately and thoroughly.
Avoid contact with eyes and in the event of accidental contact, rinse abundantly with
fresh water. If symptoms occur, seek advice of a physician.
AN: 02691/2024 & 02693/2024
Pregnant women should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product. Uterine
contractions and decreased foetal blood pressure may occur after systemic exposure
to detomidine.
In case of accidental oral intake or prolonged mucosal contact, seek medical advice
and show the package insert to the physician but DO NOT DRIVE as sedation and
changes in blood pressure may occur.
To the physician:
Detomidine is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist intended for animal use only.
Symptoms reported after accidental human exposure have included drowsiness,
hypotension, hypertension, bradycardia, tingling sensation, numbness, pain,
headache, somnolence, dilated pupils, and vomiting. Treatment should be supportive
with appropriate intensive therapy.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable
Other precautions:
The syringe may be used only once. Partially used syringes must be discarded.

Detomidine potentiates the effect of other sedatives and anaesthetics. Intravenous
potentiated sulphonamides should not be used in anaesthetized or sedated animals
as potentially fatal dysrhythmias may occur.
AN: 02691/2024 & 02693/2024

Keep the syringe in the outer carton in order to protect from light. The syringe may be
used only once. Partly used syringes must be discarded.

Meat and offal: Zero days
Milk: Zero hours

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.