Fortekor Plus 1.25 mg/2.5 mg Tablets
Benazepril Hydrochloride, Pimobendan
Last verified
Veterinary medicinal product: tablet. Distribution category: POM-V (Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3). Active substance: Benazepril Hydrochloride, Pimobendan.1
In short: questions and answers
- Does Fortekor Plus 1.25 mg/2.5 mg Tablets need a prescription?
- Prescription only. As stated in the registration decision.1
- Which animals is Fortekor Plus 1.25 mg/2.5 mg Tablets for?
- Dogs.1
- What is the active substance in Fortekor Plus 1.25 mg/2.5 mg Tablets?
- Benazepril Hydrochloride, Pimobendan.1
- What is the withdrawal period of Fortekor Plus 1.25 mg/2.5 mg Tablets according to the leaflet?
- No withdrawal period is set for this drug: it is not intended for food-producing animals.3
- Dispensing
- Prescription only1
POM-V: Prescription Only Medicine - Veterinarian. Supplied only on a prescription written by a veterinary surgeon who has assessed the animal.12
Supplied only on a veterinarian's prescription. As stated in the registration decision.
- Animal species
- Dogs1
- Active substance
- Benazepril Hydrochloride, Pimobendan
- Manufacturer
- Marketing authorisation holder: Elanco GmbH
Withdrawal period
No withdrawal period is set for this drug: it is not intended for food-producing animals.3
Summary of product characteristics
Composition
Each tablet contains:
Active substances:
| Active substances | Per tablet |
|---|---|
| pimobendan | 1.25 mg |
| benazepril hydrochloride | 2.5 mg |
Excipients:
Qualitative composition of excipients Quantitative composition if that and other constituents information is essential for proper administration of the veterinary medicinal product
Artificial Special Dry Flavour
Basic butylated methacrylate copolymer
Copovidone
Croscarmellose sodium
Crospovidone
Dibutyl sebacate
Hypromellose
Iron oxide brown (E172) 0.5 mg
Lactose monohydrate
Magnesium stearate
Maize starch
Microcrystalline cellulose
Polysorbate 80
Povidone
Silica, colloidal anhydrous
Silicon dioxide anhydrous
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Starch pregelatinised
Succinic acid
Sucrose
White and light brown oval bilayer tablets with a score line on both sides.
The tablets can be divided into equal halves.
Pharmacological properties
4.1 ATCvet code:
QC09BX9
4.2 Pharmacodynamics
Benazepril hydrochloride is a prodrug which is hydrolysed in vivo to its active metabolite, benazeprilat. Benazeprilat is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of ACE, thus preventing the conversion of inactive angiotensin I to active angiotensin II and thereby also reducing the synthesis of aldosterone. Therefore, benazepril blocks effects mediated by angiotensin II and aldosterone, including the vasoconstriction of arteries and veins, the retention of sodium and water by the kidney, and remodelling effects (including pathological cardiac hypertrophy and degenerative renal changes).
In dogs with congestive heart failure benazepril hydrochloride reduces the blood pressure and volume load on the heart. Benazepril increased the time to worsening of heart failure, and the time to death, improved clinical condition, reduced cough and improved exercise tolerance in dogs with symptomatic congestive heart failure caused by valvular disease or dilated cardiomyopathy.
Pimobendan, a benzimidazole-pyridazinone derivative, is a non-sympathomimetic, non- glycoside inotropic substance with potent vasodilating properties. It increases the calcium sensitivity of cardiac myofilaments and inhibits phosphodiesterase (type III). It also exhibits a vasodilatory action through the inhibition of phosphodiesterase type III activity.
4.3 Pharmacokinetics
Absorption Following oral administration of pimobendan alone the absolute bioavailability of the active ingredient is 60–63%. Since this bioavailability is considerably reduced when pimobendan is administered with food or shortly thereafter, it is recommended to treat animals approximately 1 hour before feeding.
After oral administration of benazepril hydrochloride alone, the systemic bioavailability is incomplete (~13%) in dogs due to incomplete absorption (38%) and first pass metabolism. Levels of benazepril decline quickly as the drug is partially metabolised by liver enzymes to benazeprilat. There is no significant difference in the pharmacokinetics of benazeprilat when benazepril hydrochloride is administered to fed or fasted dogs.
After the oral administration of the veterinary medicinal product at twice the recommended dose to dogs, peak levels of both compounds are attained rapidly (Tmax 0.5 h for benazepril hydrochloride and 0.85 h for pimobendan) with peak concentrations (Cmax) for benazepril hydrochloride of 35.1 ng/ml and 16.5 ng/ml for pimobendan. Peak benazeprilat levels are seen after 1.9 h with peak concentrations (Cmax) of 43.4 ng/ml.
Distribution The volume of distribution at steady state is 2.6 l/kg after intravenous administration of pimobendan alone, indicating that pimobendan is distributed readily into the tissues. The mean plasma protein binding in vitro is 93%.
Benazeprilat concentrations decline biphasically: the initial fast phase (t1/2 = 1.7 h) represents elimination of the free drug, while the terminal phase (t1/2 = 19 h) reflects the release of benazeprilat that was bound to ACE, mainly in the tissues. Benazepril and benazeprilat are extensively bound to plasma proteins (85– 90%), and in the tissues they are found mainly in the lung, liver and kidney.
Repeated administration of benazepril hydrochloride leads to slight bioaccumulation of benazeprilat (R = 1.47), steady state being achieved within a few days (4 days).
Metabolism Pimobendan is oxidatively demethylated to its major active metabolite, O-desmethyl pimobendan. Further metabolic pathways are phase II, glucuronides and sulfates. Benazepril hydrochloride is partially metabolised by liver enzymes to the active metabolite benazeprilat.
Elimination The plasma elimination half-life of pimobendan when dosed with this veterinary medicinal product is 0.5 h, consistent with the high clearance of the compound. The main active metabolite of pimobendan is eliminated with a plasma elimination half-life of 2.6 h. Pimobendan is excreted principally in the faeces and to a lesser extent in the urine.
The plasma elimination half-life of benazepril hydrochloride and benazeprilat, when dosed with this veterinary medicinal product is 0.36 h and 8.36 h, respectively.
Benazeprilat is excreted via the biliary (54%) and urinary (46%) routes in dogs. The clearance of benazeprilat is not affected in dogs with impaired renal function; therefore, no adjustment of the dose is required in dogs with renal insufficiency.
Target species
Dogs
Indications
For the treatment of congestive heart failure due to atrioventricular valve insufficiency or dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. This veterinary medicinal product is a fixed dose combination and should only be used in patients whose clinical signs are successfully controlled by administration of the same doses of the individual components (pimobendan and benazepril hydrochloride) given concurrently.
Dosage
Oral use.
Dose and treatment schedule:
This veterinary medicinal product is a fixed combination product which should only be used in dogs which require both active substances to be administered concomitantly at this fixed dose.
The recommended dose range for this veterinary medicinal product is 0.25–0.5 mg pimobendan per kg body weight and 0.5–1 mg benazepril hydrochloride per kg body weight divided into two daily doses. This veterinary medicinal product should be administered orally, twice daily 12 hours apart (morning and evening) and approximately 1 hour before feeding.
The tablets are breakable along the score line.
The table below may be used for guidance.
Strength and number of tablets to be administered
| Body weight (kg) of dog | FORTEKOR PLUS 1.25 mg/2.5 mg tablets: Morning | FORTEKOR PLUS 1.25 mg/2.5 mg tablets: Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 – 5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 5 – 10 | 1 | 1 |
Contraindications
Do not use in cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathies or clinical conditions where an augmentation of cardiac output is not possible for functional or anatomical reasons (e.g. aortic or pulmonary stenosis).
Do not use in cases of hypotension, hypovolaemia, hyponatremia or acute renal failure.
Do not use during pregnancy and lactation (see section 3.7).
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients.
Adverse reactions
Dogs.
| Frequency | Adverse events |
|---|---|
| Rare (1 to 10 animals / 10,000 animals treated) | Increased heart rate1; Diarrhoea2, Vomiting1,2, Anorexia2, Lethargy2 |
| Very rare (<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports) | Elevated creatinine3; Incoordination2; Fatigue2 |
1 Moderate. These effects are dose-dependent and can be avoided by reducing the dose in those cases.
2 Transient.
3At the start of therapy in dogs with chronic kidney disease. A moderate increase in plasma creatinine concentrations following administration of ACE inhibitors is compatible with the reduction in glomerular hypertension induced by these agents, and is therefore not necessarily a reason to stop therapy in the absence of other signs.
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.
Warnings
Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
In cases of chronic kidney disease, it is recommended to check the dog’s hydration status before starting therapy, and to monitor its plasma creatinine and blood erythrocyte counts during therapy.
As pimobendan is metabolised in the liver, the veterinary medicinal product should not be administered to dogs with severe hepatic insufficiency.
The efficacy and safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established in dogs below 2.5 kg body weight or under 4 months of age.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
Wash hands after use.
People with known hypersensitivity to pimobendan or benazepril hydrochloride should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Pregnant women should take special care to avoid accidental oral exposure because angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been found to affect the unborn child during pregnancy in humans.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.
3.11 Special restrictions for use and special conditions for use, including restrictions on the use of antimicrobial and antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products in order to limit the risk of development of resistance
Not applicable.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and in lactating dogs.
Pregnancy and lactation:
Do not use during pregnancy or lactation.
Laboratory studies in rats and rabbits with pimobendan have shown foetotoxic effects at maternotoxic doses. Laboratory studies in rats and rabbits with pimobendan have not shown any effect on fertility. Laboratory studies in rats have shown that pimobendan is excreted into milk.
Laboratory studies in rats with benazepril have shown foetotoxic effects (foetal urinary tract malformation) at maternally non-toxic doses. It is not known if benazepril is secreted into the milk of lactating bitches.
Fertility:
Do not use in breeding animals.
Interactions
In dogs with congestive heart failure, benazepril hydrochloride and pimobendan have been given in combination with digoxin and diuretics without demonstrable adverse interactions.
In pharmacological studies no interaction between the cardiac glycoside ouabain and pimobendan was detected. The pimobendan-induced increase in contractility of the heart is attenuated in the presence of the calcium antagonist verapamil and the ß-antagonist propranolol.
In man, the combination of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and non- steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to reduced anti-hypertensive efficacy or impaired renal function. Therefore, the concurrent use of the veterinary medicinal product with NSAIDs or any other medications with a hypotensive effect should be considered carefully before using such combinations.
The combination of the veterinary medicinal product and other anti-hypertensive agents (e.g. calcium channel blockers, β-blockers or diuretics), anaesthetics or sedatives may lead to additive hypotensive effects. Renal function and signs of hypotension (lethargy, weakness, etc) should be monitored closely and treated as necessary.
Interactions with potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone, triamterene or amiloride cannot be ruled out. It is therefore recommended to monitor plasma potassium levels when using the veterinary medicinal product in combination with a potassium sparing diuretic because of the risk of hyperkalemia.
Overdose
In case of overdose the dog should be treated symptomatically. Transient reversible hypotension may occur in accidental overdose. Therapy should consist of intravenous infusion(s) of warm isotonic saline as required.
Special warnings
None.
Withdrawal period
Not applicable.
Incompatibilities
Not applicable.
Immediate packaging
The tablets are packaged in aluminium/aluminium blisters packaged into an outer cardboard box.
Pack sizes:
Cardboard box containing 30 tablets Cardboard box containing 60 tablets
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Storage
Store below 25 °C.
Keep the blister in the outer carton in order to protect from moisture.
Any remaining half tablet should be placed back in the opened blister and stored (for a maximum of 1 day) in the original cardboard carton.
Shelf life
Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 2 years.
Shelf life after first opening the immediate packaging: 1 day
Disposal of unused product
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater.
Use take-back schemes for the disposal of any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived thereof in accordance with local requirements and with any national collection systems applicable to the veterinary medicinal product concerned.
Additional information
Vm 52127/5014
8 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION
08 September 2015
9 DATE OF THE LAST REVISION OF THE SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
April 2025
10 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.
Find more product information by searching for the ‘Product Information Database’ on www.gov.uk.
Gavin Hall Approved: 09 July 2025
Registration holder
Elanco GmbH
Regulations
- Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2033), Schedule 32