Cerenia 24 mg Tablets for Dogs

Composition

Active substance:

Each tablet contains 24 mg maropitant as maropitant citrate monohydrate.

Excipients:

Each tablet contains 0.075% w/w Sunset Yellow (E110) as a colorant.

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

6.1 List of excipients

Sunset Yellow (E110) as a colorant

Croscarmellose sodium

Lactose monohydrate

Magnesium stearate

Microcrystalline cellulose

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Pharmaceutical form

Pale orange tablet.

The tablets have a score line allowing the tablet to be halved, with the letters “MPT” and figures denoting the quantity of maropitant on one side, the reverse side is blank.

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Pharmacological properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antiemetics.

ATC Vet Code: QA04AD90.

Maropitant is a potent and selective neurokinin (NK-1) receptor antagonist, which acts by inhibiting the binding of substance P, a neuropeptide of the tachykinin family, in the CNS.

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Vomiting is a complex process coordinated centrally by the emetic centre. This centre consists of several brainstem nuclei (area postrema, nucleus tractus solitarius, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus) that receive and integrate sensory stimuli from central and peripheral sources and chemical stimuli from the circulation and the cerebro-spinal fluid.

Maropitant is a neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonist, which acts by inhibiting the binding of substance P, a neuropeptide of the tachykinin family. Substance P is found in significant concentrations in the nuclei comprising the emetic centre and is considered the key neurotransmitter involved in vomiting. By inhibiting the binding of substance P within the emetic centre, maropitant is effective against neural and humoral (central and peripheral) causes of vomiting. A variety of in vitro assays have demonstrated that maropitant binds selectively at the NK1 receptor with dose-dependent functional antagonism of substance P activity. In vivo studies in dogs demonstrated the anti-emetic efficacy of maropitant against central and peripheral emetics including apomorphine, cisplatin and syrup of ipecac.

Maropitant is non-sedative and should not be used as a sedative in motion sickness.

Maropitant is effective against vomiting. Signs of nausea including excessive salivation and lethargy might remain during treatment.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic particulars

The pharmacokinetic profile of maropitant when administered as a single oral dose of 2 mg/kg body weight to dogs was characterised by a maximum concentration (Cmax) in plasma of approximately 81 ng/ml; this was achieved within 1.9 hours post-dosing (Tmax). Peak concentrations were followed by a decline in systemic exposure with an apparent elimination half-life (t0.5) of 4.03 hours.

At a dose of 8 mg/kg, Cmax of 776 ng/ml was reached at 1.7 hours post-dosing. The elimination half-life at 8 mg/kg was 5.47 hours.

The inter-individual variation in kinetics may be large, up to 70 CV% for AUC.

During clinical studies maropitant plasma levels conferred efficacy from 1 hour after administration.

Estimates for the oral bioavailability of maropitant were 23.7% at 2 mg/kg and 37.0% at 8 mg/kg. The volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss) determined after intravenous administration at 1–2 mg/kg ranged from approximately 4.4 to 7.0 l/kg. Maropitant displays non-linear pharmacokinetics (AUC increases more than proportionally with increasing dose) when administered orally within the 1–16 mg/kg dose range.

Following repeated oral administration for five consecutive days at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg, accumulation was 151%. Following repeated oral administration for two consecutive days at a daily dose of 8 mg/kg, accumulation was 218%. Maropitant undergoes cytochrome P450 (CYP) metabolism in the liver. CYP2D15 and CYP3A12 were identified as the canine isoforms involved in the hepatic biotransformation of maropitant.

Renal clearance is a minor route of elimination, with less than 1% of an 8 mg/kg oral dose appearing in the urine as either maropitant or its major metabolite. Plasma protein binding of maropitant in dogs is more than 99%.

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Target species

Dogs.

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Indications

• For the prevention of nausea induced by chemotherapy.

• For the prevention of vomiting induced by motion sickness.

• For the prevention and treatment of vomiting, in conjunction with Cerenia solution for injection and in combination with other supportive measures.

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Dosage

For oral use.

For motion sickness, a light meal or snack before dosing is recommended; prolonged fasting before administration should be avoided. However, Cerenia tablets should not be administered wrapped or encapsulated in food as this may delay dissolution of the tablet and consequently the onset of efficacy.

Dogs should be carefully observed following administration to ensure that each tablet is swallowed.

For the prevention of nausea induced by chemotherapy and treatment and prevention of vomiting (except motion sickness), (only for dogs 8 weeks of age or older).

To treat or prevent vomiting, Cerenia tablets should be administered once daily, at a dose of 2 mg maropitant per kg bodyweight, using the number of tablets given in the table below. Tablets are breakable along the score line on the tablet.

To prevent vomiting, tablets should be given more than 1 hour in advance. The duration of the effect is approximately 24 hours and, therefore, tablets can be given the night before administration of an agent that may cause emesis (e.g. chemotherapy).

Cerenia can be used to treat or prevent vomiting either as tablets or as solution for injection administered once daily. Cerenia solution for injection may be administered for up to five days and Cerenia tablets for up to fourteen days.

For prevention of vomiting induced by motion sickness, (only for dogs 16 weeks of age or older)

To prevent vomiting induced by motion sickness, Cerenia tablets should be administered once daily, at a dose of 8 mg maropitant per kg bodyweight, using the numbers of tablets given in the table below. Tablets are breakable along the score line on the tablet.

Tablets should be administered at least one hour before starting the journey. The anti-emetic effect persists for at least 12 hours, which for convenience may allow administration the night before early morning travel. Treatment may be repeated for a maximum of two consecutive days.

Prevention of motion sickness

Dog body weight (kg) / Number of tablets 24 mg

1.0–1.5 ½

2.1–3.0 1

4.1–6.0 2

As the pharmacokinetic variation is large and maropitant accumulates in the body after once daily repeated administration, lower doses than recommended might be sufficient in some individuals and when repeating the dose.

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Contraindications

None.

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Adverse reactions

Dogs:

1 Observed pre-travel, usually within two hours of dosing.

Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See also section “Contact details” of the package leaflet.

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Warnings

Special precautions for use in animals:

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established in dogs less than 16 weeks of age for the 8 mg/kg dose (motion sickness), and in dogs less than 8 weeks of age for the 2 mg/kg dose (vomiting) as well as in pregnant or lactating bitches. Use only according to the benefit-risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian.

Maropitant is metabolised in the liver and therefore should be used with caution in patients with hepatic disease. As maropitant is accumulated in the body during a 14-day treatment period due to metabolic saturation, careful monitoring of liver function in addition to any adverse events should be implemented during long term treatment.

Cerenia should be used with caution in animals suffering from or with predisposition for cardiac diseases as maropitant has affinity to Ca- and K-ion channels. Increases of approximately 10% in the QT interval of the ECG were observed in a study on healthy beagle dogs administered 8 mg/kg orally; however, such an increase is unlikely to be of clinical significance.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals:

People with known hypersensitivity to maropitant should administer the veterinary medicinal product with caution.

Wash hands after use. In case of accidental ingestion seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

Special precautions for the protection of the environment:

Not applicable.

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Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Use only according to the benefit-risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian, because conclusive reproductive toxicity studies have not been conducted in any animal species.

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Interactions

Cerenia should not be used concomitantly with Ca-channel antagonists as maropitant has affinity to Ca-channels.

Maropitant is highly bound to plasma proteins and may compete with other highly bound drugs.

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Overdose

Cerenia tablets were well tolerated when administered for 15 days at dosages up to 10 mg/kg bodyweight per day.

Clinical signs including vomiting on first administration, excess salivation and watery faeces have been observed when the product has been administered at doses in excess of 20 mg/kg.

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Special warnings

Vomiting can be associated with serious, severely debilitating conditions including gastrointestinal obstructions; therefore, appropriate diagnostic evaluations should be employed.

Cerenia tablets have been shown to be effective in the treatment of emesis, however where the frequency of vomiting is high, orally administered Cerenia may not be absorbed before the next vomiting event occurs. It is therefore recommended to initiate the treatment of emesis with Cerenia solution for injection.

Good veterinary practice indicates that antiemetics should be used in conjunction with other veterinary and supportive measures, such as dietary control and fluid replacement therapy while addressing the underlying causes of the vomiting. The safety of maropitant during treatment beyond 5 days has not been explored in the target population (i.e. young dogs suffering from viral enteritis). In case treatment for a longer period than 5 days is regarded as necessary, careful monitoring of potential adverse events should be implemented.

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Withdrawal period

Not applicable.

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Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

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Immediate packaging

Cardboard box containing one aluminium-aluminium blister pack, each containing four tablets per pack.

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Storage

This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

An unused half tablet should be returned to the opened blister and kept within the outer cardboard.

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Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 3 years.

Shelf life of half tablets: 2 days.

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Disposal of unused product

Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from such veterinary medicinal product should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater.

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Additional information

Vm 42058/5011

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

28 September 2006

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

June 2023

11 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.

Approved 20 February 2024

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Registration holder

Zoetis UK Limited

1st Floor, Birchwood Building

Springfield Drive

Leatherhead

Surrey

KT22 7LP

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