Adverse side effects of therapy may include anemia, abortion, diarrhea, and low white blood cell counts. Both medications for treatment of EPM inhibit folic acid metabolism. Folic acid should not be administered at the same time of day as the antimicrobial drugs. Early detection and therapy increase the chance of successful treatment. In these horses, too many nerve cells are often destroyed to allow a complete cure.
Some horses are currently on medication indefinitely.
EPM can be a frustrating disease.