Pregabalin linked to slower MRI anaesthetic recovery in horses

Pregabalin given before general anaesthesia appears to lengthen recovery time in horses undergoing elective MRI, according to a retrospective Equine Veterinary Journal study of 128 cases. Investigators compared 52 horses that received oral pregabalin with 76 controls and found that pregabalin was associated with a significantly longer time to standing — 60 minutes versus 53 minutes — but not with worse overall recovery quality scores. The authors also identified other contributors to longer recovery, including older age, acepromazine use, xylazine given during recovery, longer time to first movement, and longer time to extubation. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For equine veterinary teams, the finding is less about a dramatic safety signal than about planning. Recovery is the highest-risk phase of equine anaesthesia, and even modest delays can affect staffing, stall use, monitoring intensity, and decisions around pre-anaesthetic medication in horses scheduled for MRI. The study adds to a growing body of MRI-focused recovery research: a recent retrospective study found pre-anaesthetic trazodone did not significantly change recovery time or scores in horses undergoing orthopedic MRI, suggesting sedative and analgesic choices may not affect recovery in the same way. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Prospective studies will be needed to confirm whether pregabalin itself is driving the longer recoveries and whether protocol changes can preserve analgesic benefit without extending time to standing. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)