Equithesin

Equithesin is the proprietary name for a commercial mixture of chloral hydrate, magnesium sulfate and pentobarbital sodium that was used as a general anesthetic in horses. Equithesin was administered intra-venously to effect and for many years was the most commonly used injectable anesthetic in horses. Newer anesthetic agents such as injectable barbiturates, alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists, cyclohexylamines, guiafenesin and inhalants gradually replaced Equithesin. The drug has been off the market and unavailable for decades.