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Trazodone is a pharmaceutical agent originally developed for human use, where it is classified as a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI). This means it has a dual action on serotonin receptors: it blocks certain serotonin receptors (antagonist) while enhancing serotonin levels in the brain by inhibiting its reuptake (agonist effect). This results in dose-dependent effects.
At low doses, it works mostly as a sedative, making the person - or animal - feel drowsy. At higher doses, it helps reduce anxiety and depression. Because of its calming effects, some veterinarians have used trazodone in horses, especially those on box rest, when confined to a stable for a long time to recover from an injury. It can help keep the horse relax and prevent stress or injury.
However, trazodone is listed as a prohibited substance by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and other governing bodies. Its detection in blood or urine constitutes an anti-doping rule violation, resulting in suspensions for both the athlete (jockey or trainer) and the horse involved. This classification highlights the need for robust testing methods and forensic scrutiny.
To detect if a horse has been given trazodone, testing is usually done on blood or urine samples. But there's a growing interest in using hair testing because it can show long-term exposure - like a record of what the horse has been given over weeks or months.
In recent work, Pascal Kintz and his team at the Institut de Médecine Légale in Strasbourg developed a new method to detect trazodone in horse hair. Their findings were published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology.
The team received mane hair samples from two horses suspected of having been given trazodone. Using their new method, they were able to detect extremely small amounts of the drug - as little as 0.1 picograms per milligram of hair.
In one case, a horse tested positive for 0.4 pg/mg, supporting a previous doping violation. In the second case, trazodone was found at 9 pg/mg and 24 pg/mg in two different segments of the mane - strong evidence that the horse had been given the drug multiple times.
While the researchers say it's still not possible to determine the exact dose or timing of the drug just from a hair sample, this study is the first confirmed evidence that trazodone can be incorporated into a horse's hair and detected long after administration.
As hair testing continues to improve, it could become an important tool in protecting the fairness and integrity of equine sports.
For more details, see:
Pascal Kintz, Morgane Baudry, Laurie Gheddar,
Testing for trazodone, an antidepressant, in hair collected from horses,
Journal of Analytical Toxicology, (2025), bkaf025
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