Rheumocam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats Species: Cats Therapeutic indication: Pharmaceuticals: Anti-inflammatory preparations: Oral: Other NSAIDs Active ingredient: Meloxicam Product:Rheumocam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats Product index: Rheumocam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats Presentation Oral suspension. A smooth light yellow suspension. Uses Alleviation of mild to moderate post-operative pain and inflammation following surgical procedures in cats, e.g. orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery. Alleviation of pain and inflammation in acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders in cats. Dosage and administration Oral use. Post-operative pain and inflammation following surgical procedures: After initial treatment with Rheumocam 5 mg/ml solution for injection for cats, continue treatment 24 hours later with Rheumocam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats at a dosage of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (0.1 ml /kg). The oral follow-up dose may be administered once daily (at 24-hour intervals) for up to four days. Acute musculo-skeletal disorders: Initial treatment is a single oral dose of 0.2 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (0.4 ml/kg) on the first day. Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (at 24-hour intervals) at a dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (0.1 ml /kg) for as long as acute pain and inflammation persist. Chronic musculo-skeletal disorders: Initial treatment is a single oral dose of 0.1 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (0.2 ml/kg) on the first day. Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (at 24-hour intervals) at a maintenance dose of 0.05 mg meloxicam/kg body weight (0.1 ml /kg). A clinical response is normally seen within 7 days. Treatment should be discontinued after 14 days at the latest if no clinical improvement is apparent. Route and method of administration A one ml syringe is provided with the product. The precision of the syringe is not suitable for the treatment of cats below 1 kg. Shake well before use. To be administered orally either mixed with food or directly into the mouth. Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing. The recommended dose should not be exceeded. Avoid introduction of contamination during use. Contra-indications, warnings, etc Contra-indications Do not use in pregnant or lactating animals. Do not use in cats 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 cats less than 6 weeks of age. Special precautions for use Special precautions for use in animals Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animal, as there is a potential risk of renal toxicity. Post-operative pain and inflammation following surgical procedures: In case additional pain relief is required, multimodal pain therapy should be considered. Chronic musculoskeletal disorders: Response to long-term therapy should be monitored at regular intervals by a veterinary surgeon. Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals People with known hypersensitivity to non-steroidal anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 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. Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness) Typical adverse reactions of NSAIDs such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, lethargy and renal failure have occasionally been reported. Gastrointestinal ulceration and elevated liver enzymes were reported in very rare cases. These side effects are in most cases transient and disappear following termination of the treatment but in very rare cases may be serious or fatal. 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 reactions) - 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). Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established during pregnancy and lactation (see Contraindications section). Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction Other NSAIDs, diuretics, anticoagulants, aminoglycoside antibiotics and substances with high protein binding may compete for binding and thus lead to toxic effects. Rheumocam must not be administered in conjunction with other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids. Concurrent administration of potential nephrotoxic veterinary medicinal products should be avoided. Pre-treatment with anti-inflammatory substances may result in additional or increased adverse effects and accordingly a treatment-free period with such veterinary medicinal products 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. Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary Meloxicam has a narrow therapeutic safety margin in cats and clinical signs of overdose may be seen at relatively small overdose levels. In case of overdose, adverse reactions, as listed in adverse reactions section above, are expected to be more severe and more frequent. In case of overdose symptomatic treatment should be initiated. Pharmaceutical precautions This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions. Legal category Legal category: POM-V Packaging quantities White high density polyethylene bottle containing 10 ml or 15 ml with a tamper proof child resistant closure. Polypropylene bottle containing 3 ml or 5 ml with a tamper proof child resistant closures. Each bottle is packed in a cardboard box with a 1 ml measuring syringe (barrel in polypropylene and plunger/piston in high density polyethylene). Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder (if different from distributor) Chanelle Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Ltd., Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland. Further information In the absence of compatibility studies, this veterinary medicinal product must not be mixed with other veterinary products.