Adequan i.m. is the only FDA-approved PSGAG equine joint prescription available. It is recommended for intramuscular treatment of non-infectious degenerative and/or traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses.¹

No, there is no generic version of Adequan i.m. Like their brand-name equivalents, generic drugs must be approved by the FDA. Some equine joint supplements and medical devices are named similarly to the active ingredient in Adequan i.m. and claim to achieve similar results, but these products are not equivalent to Adequan i.m. They are not backed by the required scientific testing to be approved by the FDA as a generic drug. As an FDA-approved animal pharmaceutical product, Adequan i.m. has gone through a rigorous scientific approval process and must also be made in a facility that adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices.

Adequan i.m. Single-Dose solution 500 mg/5 mL (100 mg/mL) is supplied in a single-dose glass vial. The Multi-Dose solution packaging contains 5,000 mg/50 mL (100 mg/mL) in a preserved multiple-dose glass vial.¹

The recommended dose of Adequan i.m. in horses is 500 mg every 4 days for 28 days intramuscularly.¹ The injection site must be thoroughly cleansed prior to injection. Do not mix Adequan i.m. with other drugs or solvents. See package insert for full dosage and administration information.

• Concentrations of Adequan i.m. peaked in serum and synovial fluid within 2 hours post-injection, then rapidly declined and remained at or above therapeutic levels for the remainder of the 96-hour test period.
• Concentrations of hyaluronic acid nearly doubled 48 hours post-injection, with significant increases noted from 24 to 96 hours.
• Concentrations of Adequan i.m. at or near therapeutic levels were detected in the cartilage of all eight horses 96 hours post-injection.

Clinical significance of the above results is unknown post-injection.

• There are no prophylactic, loading, or maintenance dosing recommendations for Adequan i.m. There is only one FDA-approved dosing regimen for Adequan® i.m., listed on the package insert.⁴ The prescribing veterinarian, in the context of the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), may determine individual treatment.
• The prescribing veterinarian should repeat the treatment based on clinical evaluation and recurrence of clinical signs of disease.

Yes, Adequan i.m. Multi-Dose contains a preservative (benzyl alcohol 0.9% v/v), which allows multiple punctures of an individual vial. Practice aseptic techniques in withdrawing each dose to decrease the possibility of post-injection bacterial infections. Adequately clean and disinfect the stopper prior to entry with a sterile needle and syringe, use only sterile needles and use each needle only once. Use within 28 days of first puncture and puncture a maximum of 10 times.¹

No. The only recommended dosing regimen for Adequan i.m. in horses is the label dose of 500 mg every 4 days for 28 days intramuscularly (i.m.). Alternative routes of administration of Adequan® i.m. have not been studied for safety or efficacy.¹

Single-Dose Vial (SDV)

Each 5 mL of Adequan i.m. SDV contains 500 mg of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan and water for injection q.s. sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid added when necessary to adjust pH. Sodium chloride may be added to adjust tonicity.

Multi-Dose Vial (MDV)

Each mL of Adequan i.m. MDV contains 100 mg of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, 0.9% v/v benzyl alcohol as a preservative, and water for injection q.s. sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid added when necessary to adjust pH. Therefore, the key difference in ingredients between the SDV and MDV is the addition of a preservative in the MDV, benzyl alcohol.

Adequan i.m. is labeled for intramuscular use in horses only. Injection location is not specified on the package insert.¹ The location should be determined by the prescribing veterinarian based on his/her clinical judgment.

Adequan^® i.m. is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of degenerative joint disease (DJD) and traumatic joint dysfunction and associated lameness of the carpal and hock joints in horses. As required by FDA, safety and efficacy studies for Adequan i.m. were conducted without the concomitant use of additional products.

However, successful treatment of DJD often requires a combination of therapies.

Adequan i.m. has no known contraindications. The safe use of Adequan^® i.m. in horses used for breeding purposes, during pregnancy, or in lactating mares has not been evaluated.

Adequan i.m. can be ordered through a wide network of authorized veterinary distributors. Please visit Ordering Information or call American Regent Animal Health at 800-458-0163.

Contact your distributor.

Short-dated or expired Adequan i.m. product should be returned to the distributor that originally supplied the product, per their established return policies. Contact your distributor or American Regent Animal Health at 800-458-0163.

All product should be used by the expiration date printed on the vial and carton labeling. If product is expired, please contact your distributor or American Regent Animal Health at 800-458-0163.

Label storage conditions are:

Single-dose vials: Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F); (See USP Controlled Room Temperature). Discard unused portion.
Multi-dose vials: Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F); excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F)  (See USP Controlled Room Temperature). Avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures 40°C (104°F).

If you have received product that has been exposed to temperature extremes (extreme heat or freezing) outside of the label conditions, or the glass vial has been compromised, you are advised to return the product. Additionally, there are no label recommendations on use of ice packs in warmer climates and this may be a shipping protocol used by some authorized distributors. To address additional questions or concerns, please contact your authorized veterinary distributor, call our customer service team at 800-458-0163, Monday - Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET and Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET, or email our customer service team at cs@americanregent.com.