Sedastart 1 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats and Dogs

Composition

Each ml contains:

Active substance:

Medetomidine hydrochloride 1.0 mg

(equivalent to 0.85 mg medetomidine)

Excipients:

A clear colourless, sterile aqueous solution.

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Pharmacological properties

4.1 ATCvet code: QN05CM91

4.2 Pharmacodynamics

The active ingredient of the veterinary medicinal product is (R,S)-4-[1-(2,3- dimethylphenyl)-ethyl)]-imidazole-hydrochloride (INN: Medetomidine), a sedative compound with analgesic and myorelaxing properties. Medetomidine is a selective, specific and highly efficacious alpha-2-receptor agonist. The activation of alpha-2 receptors leads to a decrease in release and turnover of norepinephrine in the central nervous system, leading to sedation, analgesia and bradycardia. In the periphery medetomidine causes vasoconstriction via stimulation of postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors, leading to a transient arterial hypertension. Within 1 – 2 hours arterial blood pressure falls back to normotension or slight hypotension. The respiratory rate may be transiently decreased. Depth and duration of sedation and analgesia are dose related. Profound sedation and recumbency, with reduced sensitivity to environmental stimuli (sounds, etc.), are seen with medetomidine. Medetomidine acts synergistically with ketamine and opiates, such as fentanyl, leading to better anaesthesia. The amount of volatile anaesthetics, such as halothane, will be reduced by medetomidine. Beside its sedative, analgesic and myo-relaxing properties, medetomidine also exerts hypothermic and mydriatic effects, inhibits salivation and decreases intestinal motility.

4.3 Pharmacokinetics

After intramuscular administration medetomidine is rapidly and nearly completely absorbed from the injection site and pharmacokinetics is very similar to intravenous administration. Maximal plasma concentrations are reached within 15 and 20 minutes. Plasma half-life is considered to be 1.2 hours in the dog and 1.5 hours in the cat. Medetomidine is mainly oxidised in the liver, a smaller amount undergoes methylation in the kidneys. Metabolites will be excreted mainly via urine.

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Target species

Dogs and cats.

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Indications

In dogs and cats:

Sedation to facilitate handling. Premedication prior to general anaesthesia.

In cats:

In combination with ketamine for general anaesthesia for minor surgical procedures of short duration.

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Dosage

The veterinary medicinal product is intended for:

Dogs: Intramuscular or intravenous use.

Cats: Intramuscular use.

Use of an appropriately graduated syringe is recommended to ensure accurate dosing when administering small volumes.

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

Dogs:

For sedation, the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at the rate of 750 μg medetomidine hydrochloride i.v. or 1000 μg medetomidine hydrochloride i.m. per square meter of body surface. Use the table below to determine the correct dosage on the basis of body weight:

Maximal effect is obtained within 15-20 minutes. Clinical effect is dose-dependent, lasting from 30-180 minutes.

Dosages in ml and corresponding amount of medetomidine hydrochloride in μg/kg bw):

For premedication, the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at a dosage of 10-40 µg medetomidine hydrochloride per kg body weight, corresponding to 0.1 – 0.4 ml veterinary medicinal product per 10 kg body weight. The exact dose depends on the combination of drugs used and the dosage(s) of the other drug(s). The dose should furthermore be adjusted to the type of surgery, length of procedure and patient temperament and weight. Premedication with medetomidine will significantly reduce the dosage of the induction agent required and will reduce volatile anaesthetic requirements for maintenance anaesthesia. All anaesthetic agents used for induction or maintenance of anaesthesia should be administered to effect. Before using any combinations, veterinary medicinal product literature for the other products should be observed. See also section 3.5.

Cats:

For moderate-deep sedation and restraint of cats the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at a dosage of 50 – 150 μg medetomidine hydrochloride / kg bw (corresp. to 0.05 – 0.15 ml veterinary medicinal product / kg bw).

For anaesthesia the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at a dosage of 80 μg medetomidine hydrochloride / kg bw (corresp. to 0.08 ml veterinary medicinal product / kg bw) and 2.5 to 7.5 mg ketamine / kg bw. Using this dosage anaesthesia occurs within 3 – 4 minutes and is apparent for 20 – 50 minutes. For longer lasting procedures administration has to be repeated by using ½ of the initial dose (i.e. 40 μg medetomidine hydrochloride (corresp. to 0.04 ml veterinary medicinal product / kg bw) and 2.5 – 3.75 mg ketamine / kg bw) or 3.0 mg ketamine / kg bw alone. Alternatively, for longer lasting procedures anaesthesia may be extended by use of the inhalation agents isoflurane or halothane, with oxygen or oxygen/nitrous oxide. See section 3.5.

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Contraindications

Do not use in animals with:

- severe cardiovascular disease or respiratory diseases or impaired liver or kidney function.

- mechanical disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract (torsio ventriculi, incarcerations, oesophagal obstructions).

- pregnancy.

- diabetes mellitus.

- state of shock, emaciation or serious debilitation.

Do not use concomitantly with sympathomimetic amines.

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

Do not use in animals with ocular problems where an increase in intraocular pressure would be detrimental.

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Adverse reactions

Cats and dogs:

a Especially in cats.

b Blood pressure will increase initially after administration and then return to normal, or slightly below normal

c Manual ventilation and an oxygen supplement may be indicated. Atropine may increase the cardiac rate.

d From circulatory failure with severe congestion of the lungs, liver, or kidney.

e Some dogs and most cats will vomit within 5-10 minutes of injection. Cats may also vomit on recovery.

f Reversible hyperglycaemia due to depression of insulin secretion.

Dogs with a body weight of less than 10 kg may show the undesirable effects mentioned above more often.

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:

A clinical examination should be carried out in all animals before the use of veterinary medicinal products for sedation and/or general anaesthesia. Higher doses of medetomidine should be avoided in large breed dogs. Care should be taken when combining medetomidine with other anaesthetics or sedatives because of its marked anaesthetic sparing effects. The dose of the anaesthetic should be reduced accordingly and titrated to response due to considerable variability in requirements between patients. Before using any combinations, the warnings and contra-indications in the veterinary medicinal product literature for the other veterinary medicinal products should be observed. Animals should be fasted 12 hours before anaesthesia.

The animal should be placed in a calm and quiet surrounding to let the sedation gain its maximum effect. This takes about 10-15 minutes. One should not start any procedure or give other medicines before maximum sedation is reached. Treated animals should be kept warm and at a constant temperature, both during the procedure and recovery.

The eyes should be protected by suitable lubricant. Nervous, aggressive or excited animals should be given the possibility to calm down before initiation of treatment. Sick and debilitated dogs and cats should only be premedicated with medetomidine before induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia based on a risk-benefit assessment.

Care should be taken with use of medetomidine in animals with cardiovascular disease, or which are elderly or in general poor health. Liver and kidney function should be evaluated prior to use.

As ketamine alone can elicit cramps, alpha-2 antagonists should be administered not before 30-40 min. after ketamine.

Medetomidine may cause respiratory depression and under these circumstances, manual ventilation and oxygen may be administered.

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

- In the case of accidental oral ingestion or self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package label or leaflet to the physician but DO NOT DRIVE as sedation and changes in blood pressure may occur.

- Avoid skin, eye or mucosal contact.

- Wash the exposed skin immediately after exposure with large amounts of water.

- Remove contaminated clothes that are in direct contact with skin.

- In the case of accidental contact of the veterinary medicinal product with eyes, rinse abundantly with fresh water. If symptoms occur, seek the advice of a physician.

- If pregnant women handle the veterinary medicinal product, special caution should be observed not to self-inject as uterine contractions and decreased foetal blood pressure may occur after accidental systemic exposure.

Advice to physician:

Medetomidine is an alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist, symptoms after absorption may involve clinical effects including dose-dependent sedation, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension, a dry mouth, and hyperglycaemia. Ventricular arrhythmias have also been reported. Respiratory and haemodynamic symptoms should be treated symptomatically.

Special precautions for the protection of the environment:

Not applicable.

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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.

Pregnancy and lactation:

The use is not recommended during pregnancy and lactation.

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Interactions

The concomitant administration of other central nervous system depressants should be expected to potentiate the effect of either active substance. Appropriate dose adjustment should be made.

Medetomidine has marked anaesthetic sparing effects. See also section 3.5. The effects of medetomidine may be antagonized by administration of atipamezole or yohimbine.

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Overdose

In the case of overdose the main signs are prolonged anaesthesia or sedation. In some cases cardio-respiratory effects may occur. For treatment of these cardio-respiratory effects of an overdose it is recommended to administer an alpha-2 antagonist e.g. atipamezole or yohimbine, provided that reversal of sedation is not dangerous to the patient (atipamezole does not reverse the effects of ketamine which may cause seizures in dogs and elicit cramps in cats when used alone). Use atipamezole hydrochloride 5 mg/ml intramuscularly in the dog in the same volume as medetomidine hydrochloride 1 mg/ml, in the cat use half the volume. The required dose of atipamezole hydrochloride corresponds in dogs to the 5-fold dose of the medetomidine hydrochloride dose in mg administered before and in cats to the 2.5-fold dose. Alpha-2 antagonists should be administered not before 30-40 min. after ketamine.

If it is imperative to reverse bradycardia but maintain sedation, atropine may be used.

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Special warnings

Medetomidine may not provide analgesia throughout the entire period of sedation, therefore consideration should be given to providing additional analgesia for painful procedures.

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

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

Glass (type I) vials closed with bromobutyl or chlorobutyl rubber closures secured with aluminium crimp caps.

1 x 1 glass vial with 10 ml.

5 x 1 glass vials with 10 ml.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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Storage

Do not freeze.

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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

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.

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 19994/5009

8 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

04 June 2010

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

February 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: 17 June 2025

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Registration holder

Le Vet B.V.

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