Veterinary Medicines Directorate
If you, or someone you know accidentally ingests a pergolide based product then you/they should seek immediate medical advice and assistance. It is recommended that you bring the related product leaflet with you to show the medical professional.
Common signs seen with pergolide ingestion can include neurological symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting, sleepiness, therefore you should not drive yourself, and should have someone accompany you to the hospital. Do not operate machinery following accidental pergolide ingestion.
Report directly to VMD
We strongly encourage anyone who is aware of a human adverse event due to veterinary medicinal products to report directly to us via our online reporting form.
Provide all relevant information, including the batch number.
In addition to continuously monitoring all reports of suspected adverse events in animals, both adverse reactions and lack of efficacy reports, from authorised veterinary medicinal products, we monitor reports of suspected adverse events to human when administering medicines authorised and used in animals, such as those containing pergolide.
The reporting of adverse events is critical to our ongoing monitoring activities in order to protect animal health, public health, and the environment. Find out more about pharmacovigilance on vmdconnect.uk.
About the products
Pergolide is an ergot derivative commonly used in the treatment of Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), also known as Cushings disease in horses. It is mainly seen in tablet form to be administered orally to the affected horse once a day. It is commonly hidden in a food stuff (carrots, apples, treats, etc) to encourage the animal to eat the product, and therefore could pose a risk for accidental ingestion by humans.
This potential risk could be increased by the common lapse in time from preparation to administration of the product that often occurs. The most common route of accidental exposure in humans to pergolide was oral/ingestion - 20 cases in 2022 in the UK, followed by skin exposure.
The VMD would recommend:
- Treatments are prepared as close to administration as possible, especially limit any time that the medication is concealed as this could increase the risk for accidental human ingestion.
- Ensure medication is properly labelled, stored in an airtight container, and is out of immediate reach, such as a high shelf, secure cabinet.
- Handle pergolide p