Pergolide (Prascend)
Prascend · compounded pergolide
Pergolide is the treatment for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, the condition in older horses once called equine Cushing’s. Prascend is the approved veterinary tablet; the human product was withdrawn years ago, so there is no human pharmacy version, and compounded pergolide has a history of potency problems.
What it is used for
PPID is a benign enlargement of part of the pituitary gland that disrupts hormone control in horses and ponies, usually over fifteen. The classic sign is a long curly coat that fails to shed; others are muscle loss, a pot belly, laminitis, lethargy, drinking and urinating more, and recurrent infections. Blood tests (ACTH, sometimes with a stimulation test) confirm it, and the disease is managed for life.
Pergolide is a dopamine agonist that restores the brake on the overactive gland. It is given once a day, started low and adjusted against the horse’s signs and repeat ACTH tests; reduced appetite in the first weeks is common and often managed by splitting the dose. Horses on pergolide often improve markedly in coat, energy and laminitis risk.
Safety points that differ from human use
- Pergolide in solution loses potency quickly; compounded liquids and powders have repeatedly tested below label strength, which is why the approved tablet is preferred. If a compounded product is used, it should be freshly made and stored as the pharmacy directs.
- A horse that stops eating on it needs a dose adjustment, not a stop; call the vet.
- Pergolide-treated horses are not intended for food; the prescription label will reflect that.
- Tablets (Prascend)
- Compounded capsules, powders and liquids
- 1 mg tablets (scored)
- Compounded strengths to the vet’s prescription
Why the cash price varies
Prascend is a single-manufacturer veterinary product bought from veterinary distributors; the vet, online equine pharmacies and the pharmacies that stock veterinary products set their own margins, and the box size (sixty or one hundred and sixty tablets) moves the per-tablet price for a horse on it for life. Compounded pergolide is cheaper per dose but the potency record argues against it for most horses.
How to pay less
- Ask the vet for a written prescription so you can compare the clinic with an equine or veterinary-stocking pharmacy.
- Ask for the larger box size once the dose is stable.
- If a compounded product is suggested, ask the vet why, and ask the compounder about potency testing and the beyond-use date.
- Upload the prescription to Script Unlock; pharmacies that carry or can order veterinary products can quote. You pay the pharmacy directly.
Questions for your vet
- How was the diagnosis confirmed, and when will ACTH be re-tested?
- What dose, and what if my horse goes off its feed?
- Prascend or compounded, and why?
- What else helps: diet, laminitis prevention, dental care?
- How will we judge improvement?
Rules on refills, transfers and controlled substances differ by state; see pharmacy rules by state.
How Script Unlock gets you a cash price for your pet’s pergolide (prascend) prescription
Prices on this site come from pharmacies responding to a real prescription. We do not publish estimated, average or "typical" prices, because none of those would be your price.
- 1You upload your prescription
A photo of your your pet’s pergolide (prascend) prescription prescription is enough. Nothing is sold on the site; you are asking pharmacies to quote.
- 2Licensed pharmacies respond
Pharmacies that Script Unlock has verified see the request and each can reply with its own cash price for your exact drug, strength and quantity.
- 3You choose and pay the pharmacy
You compare the responses, pick a pharmacy, and pay that pharmacy directly when you collect. Script Unlock never takes a patient payment and never sets the price.
Related pet medications
Sources
- FDA Approved Animal Drug Products (Green Book)
- FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
- Merck Veterinary Manual
Written by the Script Unlock editorial team from the sources above. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian or veterinary pharmacist. Last checked 2026-10-03. Nothing here replaces your vet\u2019s directions; doses for animals are set by weight and species.
Script Unlock is a marketplace that lets licensed pharmacies quote a cash price on your prescription. It does not prescribe, dispense or sell medication, does not process patient payments, and does not give medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your prescriber and pharmacist and read the medication guide supplied with your medicine.