Nelio 2.5 mg Tablet for Cats

Composition

Each tablet contains:

Active substance:

Benazepril (as hydrochloride)....................... 2.30 mg

(equivalent to benazepril hydrochloride....... 2.50 mg)

Excipients:

Qualitative composition of excipients and other constituents

Pig liver flavour

Yeast

Lactose monohydrate

Croscarmellose sodium

Anhydrous colloidal silica

Hydrogenated castor oil

Microcrystalline cellulose

Oblong shaped scored beige tablet, divisible into halves.

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Pharmacological properties

4.1 ATCvet code: QC09AA07

4.2 Pharmacodynamics

Benazepril hydrochloride is a prodrug 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 synthesis of aldosterone. Therefore, it blocks effects mediated by angiotensin II and aldosterone, including vasoconstriction of both arteries and veins, retention of sodium and water by the kidney and remodelling effects (including pathological cardiac hypertrophy and degenerative renal changes).

The veterinary medicinal product causes long-lasting inhibition of plasma ACE activity in cats, with more than 95% inhibition at peak effect and significant activity (>90% in cats) persisting 24 hours after dosing.

In cats with experimental renal insufficiency, the veterinary medicinal product normalized the elevated glomerular capillary pressure and reduced the systemic blood pressure.

Reduction in glomerular hypertension may retard the progression of kidney disease by inhibition of further damage to the kidneys. Placebo controlled clinical field studies in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have demonstrated that the veterinary medicinal product significantly reduced levels of urine protein and urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPC); this effect is probably mediated via reduced glomerular hypertension and beneficial effects on the glomerular basement membrane.

No effect of the veterinary medicinal product on survival in cats with CKD has been shown, but the veterinary medicinal product increased the appetite of the cats, particularly in more advanced cases.

4.3 Pharmacokinetics

After oral administration of benazepril hydrochloride, peak levels of benazepril are attained rapidly (Tmax 2 hours in cats) and decline quickly as the active substance is partially metabolised by liver enzymes to benazeprilat. The systemic bioavailability is incomplete due to incomplete absorption (<30% in cats) and first pass metabolism. In cats, peak benazeprilat concentrations (Cmax of 110.0 ng/ml after a dose of 0.65 mg/kg benazepril hydrochloride) are achieved with a Tmax of 1 hour and half. Benazeprilat concentrations decline biphasically: the initial fast phase (t1/2=2.4 hours in cats) represents elimination of free drug, while the terminal phase (1/2=29 hours in cats) 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 tissues are found mainly in the liver and kidney.

Repeated administration of the veterinary medicinalproduct leads to slight bioaccumulation of benazeprilat (R=1.36 in cats with 0.5 mg/kg), steady state being achieved within a few days.

Benazeprilat is excreted 85% via the biliary and 15% via the urinary route in cats. The clearance of benazeprilat is not affected in cats with impaired renal function and therefore no adjustment of the veterinary medicinal product dose is required in cases of renal insufficiency.

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Target species

Cats.

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Indications

Reduction of proteinuria associated with chronic kidney disease.

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Dosage

Oral use.

The veterinary medicinal product should be given orally once daily, with or without food. The duration of treatment is unlimited.

The veterinary medicinal product tablets are flavoured and are taken voluntarily by most cats.

Cats:

The veterinary medicinal product should be administered orally at a minimum dose of 0.5 mg (range 0.5-1.0) benazepril hydrochloride/kg body weight once daily according to the following table:

To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as possible.

In case of use of half tablets: Put the remaining half of the tablet back into the blister pocket and use for the next administration.

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Contraindications

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.

Do not use in cases of hypotension, hypovolaemia, hyponatraemia or acute renal failure.

Do not use in cases of cardiac output failure due to aortic or pulmonary stenosis. Do not use during pregnancy or lactation (section 3.7).

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Adverse reactions

Cats:

Rare (1 to 10 animals / 10,000 animals treated):

Diarrhoea, Emesis

Anorexia, Dehydration, Lethargy

Very rare (<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports):

Elevated creatinine1

Undetermined frequency (cannot be estimated from the available data):

Increased appetite, Weight gain

1At the start of therapy, in cats 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 therefore is 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 its local representative 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 safe use in the target species:

Efficacy and safety of benazepril have not been established in cats of weight less than 2.5 kg

No evidence of renal toxicity to the veterinary medicinal product has been observed in cats during clinical trials, however, as is routine in cases of chronic kidney disease, it is recommended to monitor plasma creatinine, urea and erythrocyte counts during therapy.

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

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been found to affect the unborn child during pregnancy in humans. Pregnant women should take special care to avoid accidental oral exposure.

Wash hands after use.

In case of accidental oral 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

Pregnancy and lactation:

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established in breeding, pregnant or lactating cats Benazepril reduced ovary / oviduct weights in cats when administered daily at 10 mg / kg for 52 weeks. Embryotoxic effects (foetal urinary tract malformation) were seen in trials with laboratory animals (rats) at maternally nontoxic doses.

Do not use during pregnancy or lactation.

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Interactions

In humans, the combination of ACE inhibitors and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to reduced anti-hypertensive efficacy or impaired renal function. The combination of the veterinary medicinal product and other anti-hypertensive agents (e.g. calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers or diuretics), anaesthetics or sedatives may lead to additive hypotensive effects. Therefore, concurrent use of NSAIDs or other medications with a hypotensive effect should be considered with care. Renal function and signs of hypotension (lethargy, weakness etc) should be monitored closely and treated as necessary. Interactions with potassium preserving diuretics like spironolactone, triamterene or amiloride cannot be ruled out. It is recommended to monitor plasma potassium levels when using the veterinary medicinal product in combination with a potassium sparing diuretic because of the risk of hyperkalaemia.

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Overdose

The veterinary medicinal product reduced erythrocyte counts in normal cats when dosed at 10 mg/kg body weight once daily for 12 months but this effect was not observed at the recommended dose during clinical trials in cats.

Transient reversible hypotension may occur in cases of accidental overdose. Therapy should consist of intravenous infusion with warm isotonic saline.

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Special warnings

None.

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.

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Withdrawal period

Not applicable.

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Incompatibilities

None known.

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Immediate packaging

Polyamide-Aluminium-Polyvinylchloride/Aluminium heat-sealed blister strip of 10 tablets

or

Poylamide-Aluminium-Desicant/Aluminium heat-sealed blister pack 10 tablets per strip.

Box with 1 strip of 10 tablets

Box with 2 strips of 10 tablets

Box with 5 strips of 10 tablets

Box with 10 strips of 10 tablets

Box with 14 strips of 10 tablets

Box with 18 strips of 10 tablets

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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Storage

Do not store above 25°C.

Store in original package.

Any part-used tablet should be returned to the opened blister and used within 24 hours.

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Shelf life

Shelf-life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 2 years. Shelf-life of divisions of the tablets: 24 hours.

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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.

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Additional information

Vm 14966/3017 Vm 14966/5018

8 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

16 February 2010

9 DATE OF THE LAST REVISION OF THE SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

October 2025

10 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.

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

Approved: 01 October 2025

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Registration holder

Ceva Sante Animale

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