Cydectin 0.1% w/v Oral Solution for Sheep

Moxidectin

Last verified

Veterinary medicinal product: oral solution. Distribution category: POM-VPS (Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3). Active substance: Moxidectin.1

Dispensing
Status not established

POM-VPS: Prescription Only Medicine - Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person. Prescription only, but the prescription may come from a veterinary surgeon, a pharmacist or a suitably qualified person (SQP, a registered animal-medicine adviser), and they may supply it.12

Animal species
Sheep1
Active substance
Moxidectin
ATCvet code
QP54AB023
Manufacturer
Marketing authorisation holder: Zoetis UK Limited

Withdrawal period

Animal speciesProductdays
Sheepmeat143
Sheepmilk53
Summary of product characteristics

Composition

Each ml contains:

Active substance:

Moxidectin 1.00 mg

Excipients:

Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) 40.00 mg

Butylated Hydroxytoluene 2.50 mg

Disodium Edetate (E385) 0.27 mg

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1

6.1 List of excipients

Benzyl Alcohol (E1519)

Butylated Hydroxy Toluene

Disodium Edetate

Polysorbate 80

Propylene glycol

Dibasic sodium phosphate dodecahydrate

Monobasic sodium phosphate dihydrate

Purified water

Phosphoric acid as a pH buffer

Sodium hydroxide as a pH buffer

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Pharmaceutical form

Oral solution Pale yellow solution

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Pharmacological properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Endectocides (milbemycins)

ATCvet code: QP54AB02

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Moxidectin is a parasiticide active against a wide range of economically important internal and external parasites and is a second generation macrocyclic lactone of the milbemycin family. Its principal mode of action is interfering with neuromuscular transmission of the GABA (gamma amino butyric acid)-gated or glutamate-gated chloride channels.

Moxidectin stimulates the release of GABA and increases its binding to the postsynaptic receptors. The net effect is to open the chloride channels on the postsynaptic junction to allow the inflow of chloride ions and induce an irreversible resting state. This results in flaccid paralysis and eventual death of parasites exposed to the drug Resistance to moxidectin is mediated in part by membrane transporter P-glycoproteins, and cross resistance with other macrocyclic lactones is possible.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic particulars

22% of an oral dose of moxidectin is absorbed with maximum blood concentrations being achieved 9 hours post treatment. The drug is distributed throughout the body tissues but due to its lipophilicity the target tissue is fat where concentrations are 10 to 20 times higher than those found in other tissues. The depletion half life in fat is 23-28 days. Moxidectin undergoes limited biotransformation by hydroxylation. The only significant route of excretion is the faeces.

5.3 Environmental properties

Moxidectin fulfils the criteria for a (very) persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substance. In particular, in acute and chronic toxicity studies with algae, crustaceans and fish, moxidectin showed toxicity to these organisms, yielding the following endpoints:

OrganismEC50NOEC
AlgaeS. capricornutum>86.9 μg/l86.9 μg/l
Crustaceans (Water fleas)Daphnia magna (acute)0.0302 μg/l0.011 μg/l
Daphnia magna (reproduction)0.0031 μg/l0.010 μg/l
FishO. mykiss0.160 μg/lNot determined
L. macrochirus0.620 μg/l0.52 μg/l
P. promelas (early life stages)Not applicable0.0032 μg/l
Cyprinus carpio0.11 μg/lNot determined

EC50: the concentration which results in 50% of the test species individuals being adversely affected, i.e. both mortality and sub-lethal effects.

NOEC: the concentration in the study at which no effects are observed.

This implies that when allowing moxidectin to enter water bodies, this may have a severe and lasting impact on aquatic life. To mitigate this risk, all precautions for use and disposal must be adhered to.

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Target species

Sheep.

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Indications

For the treatment and prevention of infections caused by:

- Adult and immature gastro-intestinal nematodes

• Haemonchus contortus (including inhibited larvae)

• Ostertagia (Teladorsagia) circumcincta (including inhibited larvae)

• Ostertagia (Teladorsagia) trifurcata

• Trichostrongylus axei (including inhibited larvae)

• Trichostrongylus colubriformis

• Trichostrongylus vitrinus

• Nematodirus battus

• Nematodirus spathiger

• Nematodirus filicolis (adults only)

• Strongyloides papillosus (larval stages only)

• Cooperia curticei (adults only)

• Cooperia oncophora

• Oesophagostomum columbianum

• Oesophagostomum venulosum (adults only)

• Chabertia ovina

• Trichuris ovis (adults only)

- Adult respiratory tract nematode

• Dictyocaulus filaria

- The veterinary medicinal product has a persistent effect in preventing reinfection:

• for 5 weeks by Ostertagia (Teladorsagia) circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus

• for 4 weeks by Oesophagostomum columbianum

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Dosage

Oral use.

Should be given as a single oral drench of 1 ml/5 kg live bodyweight, equivalent to 200 µg moxidectin/kg live bodyweight, using any standard drenching equipment.

Underdosing could result in ineffective use and may favour resistance development.

To ensure administration of a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as possible. If animals are to be treated collectively, reasonably homogeneous groups should be set up, and all animals of a group should be dosed at the rate corresponding to the heaviest one.

Accuracy of the dosing should be thoroughly checked. Do not mix with other products.

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Contraindications

None.

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Adverse reactions

None known.

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 the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

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Warnings

Special precautions for use in animals

Not applicable.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the medicinal products to animals

- Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes.

- Personal protective equipment consisting of impermeable rubber gloves should be worn when handling the veterinary medicinal product.

- In case of accidental spillage onto clothing occurs, remove any contaminated clothing immediately and wash exposed skin with soap and water.

- In case of accidental spillage into eyes, rinse immediately with water and seek medical attention immediately.

- Wash hands after use.

- Do not smoke or eat when using this veterinary medicinal product.

Special precautions for the protection of the environment

Moxidectin fulfils the criteria for a (very) persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substance; therefore, exposure of the environment to moxidectin must be limited to the extent possible. Treatments should be administered only when necessary and should be based on faecal egg counts or evaluation of the risk of infestation at the animal and/or flock level.

Like other macrocyclic lactones, moxidectin has the potential to adversely affect non-target organisms:

• Faeces containing moxidectin excreted onto pasture by treated animals may temporarily reduce the abundance of dung feeding organisms. Following treatment of sheep with the veterinary medicinal product, levels of moxidectin that are potentially toxic to dung fly species may be excreted over a period of 4 days and may decrease dung fly abundance during that period. It has been established in laboratory tests that moxidectin may temporarily affect dung beetle reproduction; however, studies with incurred residues indicate no long-term effects. Nevertheless, in case of repeated treatments with moxidectin (as with veterinary medicinal products of the same anthelmintic class) it is advisable not to treat animals every time on the same pasture to allow dung fauna populations to recover.

• Moxidectin is inherently toxic to aquatic organisms including fish. The veterinary medicinal product should be used only according to the label instructions. Based on the excretion profile of moxidectin when administered as the oral formulation to sheep, treated animals should not have access to watercourses during the first 3 days after treatment.

Other precautions

Not applicable.

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Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

The safety of moxidectin was established during pregnancy, lactation and in breeding sheep.

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Interactions

The effects of GABA agonists are increased by moxidectin.

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Overdose

Symptoms generally do not occur at less than 5 times the recommended dose.

They are manifested as transient salivation, depression, drowsiness and ataxia 8 to 12 hours post-treatment. Treatment is not generally necessary and recovery is generally complete within 24 to 48 hours. There is no specific antidote.

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Special warnings

Unnecessary use of antiparasitics or use deviating from the instructions given in the SPC may increase the resistance selection pressure and lead to reduced efficacy. The decision to use the veterinary medicinal product should be based on confirmation of the parasitic species and burden, or of the risk of infection based on its epidemiological features, for each flock.

Repeated use for an extended period, particularly when using the same class of substances, increases the risk of resistance development. Within a flock, maintenance of susceptible refugia is essential to reduce that risk. Systematically applied interval-based treatment and treatment of a whole flock should be avoided. Instead, if feasible, only selected individual animals or subgroups should be treated (targeted selective treatment). This should be combined with appropriate husbandry and pasture management measures. Guidance for each specific flock should be sought from the responsible veterinarian. Multiple resistance of Teladorsagia circumcincta to moxidectin, levamisole, benzimidazole and ivermectin was reported throughout Europe.

Moxidectin-resistant Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were also described. Therefore, the use of this veterinary medicinal product should take into account local information about susceptibility of the target parasites, where available. Additionally, use should be based on local history of treatments and recommendations on how to use the veterinary medicinal product under sustainable conditions to limit further selection for resistance to antiparasitic compounds. These precautions are especially important when moxidectin is being used to control resistant strains.

Clinical trials, after experimental and natural infection, have shown that the veterinary medicinal product is effective against certain benzimidazole resistant strains of:

. Haemonchus contortus

. Ostertagia circumcincta

. Trichostrongylus colubriformis

. Cooperia curticei

It is recommended to further investigate cases of suspected resistance, using an appropriate diagnostic method (e.g. Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test). Where the results of the test(s) strongly suggest resistance to a particular anthelmintic, an anthelmintic belonging to another pharmacological class and having a different mode of action should be used. Confirmed resistance should be reported to the marketing authorisation holder or to the competent authorities.

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Withdrawal period

Meat and offal: 14 days.

Milk: 5 days.

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Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies, this veterinary medicinal product must not be mixed with other veterinary medicinal products.

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Immediate packaging

1L HDPE jerrican container with PP screw cap.

2.5L and 5L fluorinated HDPE backpack containers with PP screw cap closure and a polypropylene spouted cap.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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Storage

Protect from light.

Do not store above 25°C.

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Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 2 years. Shelf life after the first opening the immediate packaging: 6 months.

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Disposal of unused product

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater.

Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste material derived from such veterinary medicinal products should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements. The veterinary medicinal product should not enter water courses as moxidectin may be dangerous for fish and other aquatic organisms.

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Additional information

Vm 42058/5133

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

23 April 1996

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

April 2026

PROHIBITION OF SALE, SUPPLY AND/OR USE

11 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.

Find more product information by searching for the ‘Product Information Database’ or ‘PID’ on www.gov.uk.

Gavin Hall Approved: 25 June 2026

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Registration holder

Zoetis UK Limited

1st Floor, Birchwood Building

Springfield Drive

Leatherhead

Surrey

KT22 7LP

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Regulations

Sources

  1. VMD Product Information Database: Cydectin 0.1% w/v Oral Solution for Sheep, 42058/5133 UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (OGL v3.0), checked 2026-10-02 archived copy from 2026-10-02
  2. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3 (categories of veterinary medicinal products) UK Government, legislation.gov.uk, checked 2026-10-02 archived copy from 2026-10-02
  3. Summary of Product Characteristics: Cydectin 0.1% w/v Oral Solution for Sheep UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, SPC of the marketing authorisation holder, checked 2026-10-02 archived copy from 2026-10-02