Pergolide mesylate

What is this medication for?

• Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, equine Cushing's disease) — the definitive medical therapy

How is it given?

Give exactly as your veterinarian prescribed — never change the dose or stop on your own unless your veterinarian has told you to.

• The PPID trifecta: pergolide (dopamine restores the missing brake) + nutrition/weight control + laminitis vigilance — the drug controls peptide output, management controls the rest.
• Anorexia = the dose-limiting signal with a scripted response (stop-ramp-restart) — memorize the ramp (0.25→0.5→0.75 over alternating 2-day steps).

What if I miss a dose?

• Give it as soon as you remember — unless it is almost time for the next dose (then skip the missed one; never double up).
• Call your clinic if you miss more than one dose in a row.

Side effects — what should I watch for?

Effects listed as common in this handout

• Transient dullness/low energy/tiredness (Dopaminergic adjustment)
• Colic/diarrhea (occasional reports) (stomach/intestinal dopaminergic effects)

Worth a phone call to your veterinarian

• Anorexia (up to 10%) (The monitoring Keystone — drives the stop-ramp-restart protocol)

⚠️ Contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY if you notice

• Trouble breathing, collapse, seizures, severe vomiting or diarrhea, facial swelling, or pale gums

Before starting (or refilling), tell your veterinarian if your pet:

• has or has had: Life-long therapy — no cure, weeks-to-months to judge; owners must know the commitment + cost

• is pregnant, nursing, or used for breeding
• is taking any other medications, supplements, or flea/tick products, including:
  • Cyproheptadine
  • Other dopaminergics/antagonists (metoclopramide)
  • Phenothiazines (acepromazine)

Storage and handling

Compounded capsules/suspension (era-dependent); Prascend tablets later.

Good to know

• The PPID trifecta: pergolide (dopamine restores the missing brake) + nutrition/weight control + laminitis vigilance — the drug controls peptide output, management controls the rest.
• Anorexia = the dose-limiting signal with a scripted response (stop-ramp-restart) — memorize the ramp (0.25→0.5→0.75 over alternating 2-day steps).
• Dose-units zoo alert (Plumb's own note): total-mg, micrograms/kg, and mg/kg regimens coexist — 1 mg total ≈ 0.002 mg/kg ≈ 2 micrograms/kg; know they're the same start.
• The human-withdrawal → compounding → Prascend saga is pharmacy-history in one drug.