Norbrook Meloxicam 5 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats

Composition

Each ml contains:

Active Substance:

Meloxicam 5 mg

Excipients:

Ethanol, anhydrous 150 mg

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

6.1 List of excipients

Meglumine

Glycine

Ethanol (anhydrous)

Poloxamer 188

Sodium Chloride

Glycofurol

Sodium Hydroxide (for pH adjustment)

Hydrochloric Acid (for pH adjustment)

Water for Injections

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Pharmaceutical form

Solution for injection

Pale yellow solution.

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Pharmacological properties

Pharmacotherapeutic Group: Anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic products, non-steroids (oxicams).

ATCvet code: QM01AC06

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the oxicam class which acts by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-exudative and antipyretic effects. It reduces leukocyte infiltration into the inflamed tissue. To a minor extent it also inhibits collagen-induced thrombocyte aggregation. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that meloxicam inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) to a greater extent than cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1).

5.2 Pharmacokinetic particulars

Absorption

Following subcutaneous administration, meloxicam is completely bioavailable and maximal mean plasma concentrations of 0.73 μg/ml in dogs and 1.1 μg/ml in cats were reached approximately 2.5 hours and 1.5 hours post-administration, respectively.

Distribution

There is a linear relationship between the dose administered and plasma concentration observed in the therapeutic dose range in dogs and cats. More than 97 % of meloxicam is bound to plasma proteins. The volume of distribution is 0.3 l/kg in dogs and 0.09 l/kg in cats.

Metabolism

In dogs, meloxicam is predominantly found in plasma and is also a major biliary excretion product whereas urine contains only traces of the parent compound. Meloxicam is metabolised to an alcohol, an acid derivative and to several polar metabolites. All major metabolites have been shown to be pharmacologically inactive.

In cats, meloxicam is predominantly found in plasma and is also a major biliary excretion product whereas urine contains only traces of the parent compound. Five major metabolites were detected all having been shown to be pharmacologically inactive. Meloxicam is metabolised to an alcohol, an acid derivative and to several polar metabolites. As for other species investigated, the main pathway of meloxicam biotransformation in cat is oxidation.

Elimination

In dogs, meloxicam is eliminated with a half-life of 24 hours. Approximately 75 % of the administered dose is eliminated via faeces and the remainder via urine.

In cats, meloxicam is eliminated with a half-life of 24 hours. The detection of metabolites from the parent compound in urine and faeces, but not in plasma is indicative for their rapid excretion. 21 % of the recovered dose is eliminated in urine (2 % as unchanged meloxicam, 19 % as metabolites) and 79 % in the faeces (49 % as unchanged meloxicam, 30 % as metabolites).

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Target species

Dogs and cats.

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Indications

Dogs:

Alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders. Reduction of post-operative pain and inflammation following orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.

Cats:

Reduction of post-operative pain after ovariohysterectomy and minor soft tissue surgery.

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Dosage

Dogs:

Musculo-skeletal disorders: Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight (i.e. 0.4 ml/10 kg bodyweight). A Meloxicam 1.5 mg/ml oral suspension may be used for continuation of treatment at a dosage of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight, 24 hours after administration of the injection.

Reduction of post-operative pain (over a period of 24 hours): Single intravenous or subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight (i.e. 0.4 ml/10 kg bodyweight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia.

Cats:

Reduction of post-operative pain in cats where no oral follow-up treatment is possible e.g. feral cats:

Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.3 mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight (i.e. 0.06 ml/kg bodyweight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia. In this case do not use oral follow up treatment.

Reduction of post-operative pain in cats when administration of meloxicam is to be continued as an oral follow-up therapy:

Single subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (i.e. 0.04 ml/kg body weight) before surgery, for example at the time of induction of anaesthesia.

To continue treatment for up to five days, this initial dose may be followed 24 hours later by administration of a Meloxicam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats at a dosage of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight. The oral follow-up dose may be administered for up to a total of four doses at 24 hour intervals.

Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing.

A suitably graduated 1 ml syringe should be used for administration of the product to cats.

Avoid introduction of contamination during use.

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Contraindications

Do not use in pregnant or lactating animals.

Do not use in animals suffering from gastrointestinal disorders such as irritation and haemorrhage, impaired hepatic, cardiac or renal function and haemorrhagic disorders.

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

Do not use in animals less than 6 weeks of age nor in cats of less than 2 kg.

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Adverse reactions

Typical adverse reactions of NSAIDs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, apathy and renal failure have been reported very rarely in spontaneous reports. Elevated liver enzymes have been reported very rarely in spontaneous reports. In dogs, haemorrhagic diarrhoea, haematemesis and gastrointestinal ulceration have been reported very rarely in spontaneous reports.

In dogs, these adverse reactions occur generally within the first treatment week and are in most cases transient and disappear following termination of the treatment but in very rare cases may be serious or fatal.

Anaphylactoid reactions may occur very rarely in spontaneous reports and should be treated symptomatically.

If adverse reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of a veterinarian should be sought.

The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:

- very common (more than 1 in 10 animals treated displaying adverse reaction(s))

- common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals treated)

- uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals treated)

- rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals treated)

- very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports).

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Warnings

Special precautions for use in animals

Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animal, as there is a potential risk of renal toxicity.

During anaesthesia, monitoring and fluid therapy should be considered as standard practice.

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

Accidental self-injection may give rise to pain. People with known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.

In case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.

In view of the risk of accidental self-injection and the known adverse class-effects of NSAIDs and other prostaglandin inhibitors on pregnancy and/or embryofoetal development, the veterinary medicinal product should not be administered by pregnant women or women attempting to conceive.

This product can cause eye irritation. In case of contact with the eyes, immediately rinse thoroughly with water.

Wash hands after use.

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Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and lactation (see section 4.3).

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Interactions

Other NSAIDs, diuretics, anticoagulants, aminoglycoside antibiotics and substances with high protein binding may compete for binding and thus lead to toxic effects. Meloxicam 5 mg/ml solution for injection must not be administered in conjunction with other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids. Concurrent administration of potential nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided. In animals at anaesthetic risk (e.g. aged animals) intravenous or subcutaneous fluid therapy during anaesthesia should be taken into consideration. When anaesthesia and NSAID are concomitantly administered, a risk for renal function cannot be excluded.

Pre-treatment with anti-inflammatory substances may result in additional or increased adverse effects and accordingly a treatment-free period with such drugs should be observed for at least 24 hours before commencement of treatment. The treatment-free period, however, should take into account the pharmacological properties of the products used previously.

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Overdose

In the case of overdose, symptomatic treatment should be initiated.

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Special warnings

For post-operative pain relief in cats, safety has only been documented after thiopental/halothane anaesthesia.

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Withdrawal period

Not applicable.

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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

Colourless glass injection vial of 10, 20 or 100 ml, closed with a bromobutyl stopper and sealed with an aluminium cap.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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Storage

Store below 25 °C.

Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

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Shelf life

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

Shelf-life after first opening the immediate packaging: 28 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.

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Additional information

Vm 02000/4397

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

11 February 2016

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

November 2023

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Registration holder

Norbrook Laboratories Limited

Station Works

Camlough Road

Newry

Co. Down

BT35 6JP

United Kingdom

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