What was butorphanol originally used for in veterinary medicine?

Butorphanol was originally used in veterinary medicine primarily as a cough suppressant. This medication is part of the opioid class and has been utilized specifically for its ability to alleviate coughing in animals, particularly in cases where coughing arises from conditions such as bronchitis or other respiratory issues. Its effectiveness in this area made it a valuable tool in the management of respiratory conditions in vet practices.

In addition to its use as a cough suppressant, butorphanol has various applications, including providing analgesia and sedation, but its initial role in veterinary medicine focused on suppressing cough rather than serving as a preanesthetic agent or a pain management solution. As a mixed agonist-antagonist opioid, it has properties that contribute to both its cough-suppressant effects and its capacity to provide analgesia, but its original indication was specifically for managing cough.