A:   Warbex is an organophophate insecticide, used as a pour-on to control external parasites on cattle. The following information comes from the material safety data sheets for Warbex. Long term exposure to high concentrations of xylene and cyclohexanone, major components present in Warbex, may cause liver or kidney damage and depression of the central nervous system.

It is important to handle Warbex carefully. Short-term but excessive exposure to Warbex can cause central nervous system effects due to its anticholinesterase activity. Effects may be immediate or delayed and are dependent on dose, duration of, and route of exposure (i.e., ingestion, direct contact or absorption through the skin, inhalation). Most clinical signs of acute exposure resolve within days to weeks; however, some symptoms may persist for months. Acute effects include tightness in the chest, wheezing respirations, increased salivation and lacrimation (tearing), sweating, frequent urination, constriction of pupils, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Additional effects are fatigue, weakness, involuntary twitching, cramps, pallor, decreased heart rate, and hypotension (decreased blood pressure). Additional nervous system effects are headache, restlessness, insomnia, slurred speech, tremors, loss of reflexes, and incoordination. Gross overexposure may result in convulsions, coma, or death due to respiratory failure. Xylene and cyclohexanone, major components of WARBEX, cause skin and eye irritation, central and peripheral nervous system effects, and may cause respiratory tract irritation. Cyclohexanone may also produce transient corneal injury on contact with the eyes.