Cloudy, white, aqueous suspension for injection. Each ml contains Insulin human* 40 IU as protamine zinc insulin. One IU (International Unit) corresponds to 0.0347 mg of insulin human. ProZinc is a suspension containing protamine zinc insulin human.

*produced by recombinant DNA technology

For the treatment of diabetes mellitus in cats and dogs to achieve reduction of hyperglycaemia and improvement of associated clinical signs.

Subcutaneous use.

If the animal owner is to administer the product, suitable training/advice should be provided by the prescribing veterinarian before using for the first time.

The veterinarian should re-evaluate the animal at appropriate intervals and make adjustments to the treatment protocol, for instance dose and dosing regimen, until adequate glycaemic control has been attained.

Any dose adjustment (i.e. increase of dose) should be in general performed after several days (e.g. 1 week) since full action of insulin requires an equilibration phase. Dose reductions due to observed hypoglycaemia or suspected Somogyi effect (rebound hyperglycaemia) may be of 50% or higher (potentially including a temporary pause of insulin administration).

Once adequate glycaemic control is achieved intermittent glucose monitoring should be performed, especially when there is a change in clinical signs or diabetic remissionis is suspected, and further adjustments in the insulin dose might be necessary.

The initial recommended dose is 0.2 to 0.4 IU insulin/kg bodyweight every 12 hours.

- For cats previously controlled on insulin, a higher starting dose up to 0.7 IU insulin/kg bodyweight may be appropriate.- Adjustments of insulin dose if required should usually be done between 0.5 to 1 IU insulin per injection.

Cats can develop diabetic remission, in which case sufficient endogenous insulin production will be regained and exogenous insulin dose will need to be adjusted or ceased.

Dosing should be individualised and based on the clinical presentation of each patient. To achieve optimal control of diabetes mellitus, dose adjustments should primarily be based on clinical signs. Blood parameters such as fructosamine, maximum blood glucose and decrease of blood glucose concentrations in blood glucose curves conducted over a sufficient period of time to determine a blood glucose nadir should be used as supporting tools.

Re-evaluation of clinical signs and laboratory parameters should be performed as recommended by the attending veterinarian.

For initiation of treatment, the recommended dose is 0.5 to 1.0 IU insulin/kg bodyweight once daily every morning (approx. every 24 h).

For newly diagnosed diabetic dogs, a starting dose of 0.5 IU insulin/kg once daily is recommended.

Adjustments of insulin dose on a once daily regimen, if required, should generally be done in a conservative and gradual manner, (e.g. up to 25% increase/decrease of the dose per injection).

If insufficient improvement in diabetic control is observed after an adequate dose adjustment period of 4 to 6 weeks on once daily treatment, the following options may be considered:

- Further adjustments of insulin dose on once daily treatment may be necessary; in particular if dogs undertake increased physical activity, have a change of their usual diet or during concomitant illness.

- Switching to twice daily dosing: In such cases, it is recommended to reduce the dose per injection by one third (e.g. 12 kg dog being treated once daily with 12 IU insulin/injection may be switched to 8 IU insulin/injection administered twice daily). The product should be administered in the morning and in the evening, approx. 12 hours apart. Further adjustments of insulin dose on twice daily treatment may be necessary.

Depending on the underlying cause (e.g. dioestrus-induced diabetes mellitus), dogs can develop diabetic remission, although more seldom than in cats. In those cases sufficient endogenous insulin production will be regained and the exogenous insulin dose will need to be adjusted or ceased.

A U-40 syringe must be used.

The suspension should be mixed by gently rolling the vial prior to withdrawing each dose from the vial.

The dose should be given concurrently with or immediately after a meal.

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

The veterinary medicinal product should be administered twice daily by subcutaneous injection.

Avoid introduction of contamination during use.

After gently rolling the vial, ProZinc suspension has a white, cloudy appearance.

A white ring may be seen in the neck of some vials, but this does not affect the quality of the product.

Agglomerates (e.g. clumps) can form in insulin suspensions: do not use the product if visible agglomerates persist after gently rolling the vial.

Do not use for the acute management of diabetic ketoacidosis.

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

Very stressful events, inappetance, concomitant treatment with gestagens and corticosteroids or other concomitant diseases (e.g. gastro-intestinal, infectious or inflammatory or endocrine diseases), might influence insulin effectiveness and therefore the insulin dose may need to be adjusted.

The insulin dose may need to be adjusted or discontinued in case of remission of the diabetic state in cats or after resolution of transient diabetic stages in dogs (e.g. dioestrus-induced diabetes mellitus, diabetes mellitus secondary to hyperadrenocorticism).

After the daily insulin dose is established, monitoring for diabetic control is recommended.

Treatment with insulin can cause hypoglycaemia, for clinical signs and appropriate treatment, see below.

Hypoglycaemic reactions were very commonly reported in clinical studies: 13% (23 of 176) of treated cats and 26.5% (44 of 166) of treated dogs. These reactions were generally mild in nature. Clinical signs may include hunger, anxiety, unstable locomotion, muscle twitching, stumbling or sinking in the rear legs and disorientation.

In this case immediate administration of a glucose containing solution or gel and/or food is required.

Insulin administration should be temporarily stopped and the next dose of insulin adjusted appropriately.

Local injection site reactions were very rarely reported and resolved without cessation of therapy.

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).

The safety and efficacy of ProZinc in breeding, pregnant and lactating cats has not been evaluated.

Use only according to the benefit-risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian.

In general, insulin requirements during pregnancy and lactation might be different due to a change in the metabolic state. Therefore, close glucose monitoring and veterinary supervision is advised.

Changes in insulin requirements may result from administration of substances which alter glucose tolerance (e.g. corticosteroids and gestagens). Monitoring of glucose concentrations should be performed to adjust the dose accordingly. Similarly, feeding a high protein/low carbohydrate diet may alter insulin requirements (e.g. decrease of insulin dose).

An overdose of insulin can result in hypoglycaemia in which case immediate administration of a glucose solution and/or food is required.

Clinical signs may include hunger, increasing anxiety, unstable locomotion, muscle twitching, stumbling or sinking in the rear legs and disorientation.

Insulin administration should be temporarily stopped and the next dose of insulin adjusted appropriately. The owner is advised to have glucose containing products (e.g. honey, dextrose gel) in the household.

Changes in insulin requirements may result from administration of substances which alter glucose tolerance (e.g. corticosteroids and gestagens). Monitoring of glucose concentrations should be performed to adjust the dose accordingly. Similarly, feeding cats with a high protein/low carbohydrate diet and changing the diet of any given cat or dog may alter insulin requirements and necessitate a change of insulin dose.

Accidental self-injection can provoke clinical signs of hypoglycaemia and there is a low possibility of an allergic reaction in sensitised individuals.

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

For animal treatment only.

To be supplied only on veterinary prescription.

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

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

Shelf life after first opening the immediate packaging: 60 days.

For unused and broached vials: Store upright in a refrigerator (2 °C – 8 °C). Do not freeze.

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

Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from such veterinary medicinal products should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

Cardboard box with 1 clear glass vial of 10 ml closed with a butyl rubber stopper and sealed with a plastic flip-off cap.

Insulin activates insulin receptors and therewith a complex cell signaling cascade which results in increased glucose uptake into the cells. The main effects of insulin are the reduction in circulating blood glucose concentrations and the storage of fat. Overall insulin influences the regulation of the carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

Under clinical field conditions in diabetic cats the maximal action on blood glucose concentrations (e.g. blood glucose nadir) after subcutaneous administration was observed at a mean of 6 hours (range 3 to 9 hours). In the majority of cats the glucose lowering effect lasted for a minimum of 9 hours after first insulin injection.

Absorption: Protamine zinc recombinant human insulin is an insulin whose absorption and onset of action is delayed by the addition of protamine and zinc leading to crystal formation. After subcutaneous injection, proteolytic tissue enzymes degrade protamine to permit the absorption of insulin. In addition, interstitial fluid will dilute and break down the formed zinc insulin hexamer complexes and result in a delayed absorption from the subcutaneous depot.

Distribution: Once absorbed from the subcutaneous site, insulin will enter the circulation and diffuse into tissues, where it binds to insulin receptors found on most tissues. Target tissue organs are i.e. liver, muscle and adipose tissue.

Metabolism: Following the binding of insulin with the insulin receptor and the subsequent action, insulin is released back into the extracellular environment. It may then be degraded on passage through the liver or by the kidney. Degradation normally involves endocytosis of the insulin-receptor complex, followed by the action of insulin-degrading enzyme.

Elimination: The liver and the kidney are the two main organs which eliminate insulin from the circulation. Forty per cent of insulin is eliminated by the liver and 60% is eliminated by the kidney.

 

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH

Binger Strasse 173

55216 Ingelheim/Rhein

Germany

UK(GB): Vm 04491/5049