Fine, white and free-flowing oral powder. Each gram contains 5 mg of dembrexine hydrochloride monohydrate (Equivalent to 4.372 mg of dembrexine per g) as active substance.

The product is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of acute, sub-acute and chronic respiratory disease of the upper and lower respiratory tract, where an abnormal amount of mucus of increased viscosity is present.

For oral administration in the food at a dose rate of 0.3 mg dembrexine per kg bodyweight twice daily: for example, for a 500kg horse, 30 g (6 level measures) of powder twice daily. 

For small horses, ponies and foals the dose is administered pro rata according to the bodyweight, i.e. at a rate of 2 level measures per 170 kg bodyweight. 

Add to the feed immediately prior to administration. Discard any remaining medicated feed.

An improvement in clinical signs is usually seen within five days. Treatment should be continued until complete remission occurs (usually a total period of 12 to 14 days) but should not exceed 28 days. The horse's condition should be reassessed after this period before any further treatment is proposed. 

In cases complicated by the presence of micro-organisms or where pyrexia is present, the simultaneous use of suitable chemotherapeutic agent is recommended.

Do not use in animals with known hypersensitivity to the active substance.

Sputolosin has not been tested in pregnant mares, however, reproduction studies using dembrexine in laboratory animals show no teratogenic effect. Where Sputolosin has been administered to pregnant mares, no adverse effects have been reported.

Dosages up to 15 times the therapeutic dose did not cause any adverse reactions.

Meat and offal: 1 day

Care/precautions should be taken when using this product to avoid skin contact, eye contact and/or inhalation of the dust. Medical advice should be sought if you feel unwell after using this product.

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

Add to feed immediately prior to administration. Discard any remaining medicated feed.

Do not store above 25°C. Store in a dry place.

Keep out of the reach and sight of children. For animal treatment only.

To be supplied only on veterinary prescription.

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

The product is packaged in a polyethylene container with a push-fit polyethylene cap and a measuring spoon (5 g powder). The container is filled with 420 g powder.

Dembrexine reduces the viscosity of respiratory mucus by fragmenting the sputum fibre network, and increasing pulmonary surfactant and respiratory compliance.

Absorption: Absorption of dembrexine from the gut in the horse is practically complete as evident from the large percentage excreted in the urine. Following oral administration of dembrexine the absolute bioavailability of unchanged drug is about 30% (see also the information under the subheading "Metabolism" below). Steady state concentrations of dembrexine in plasma are reached within 2 days after repeated twice daily oral administration. At that time mean maximum plasma concentrations of 0.15 ng dembrexine/ml are observed about 1 hour post dose.

Distribution: There is a linear relationship between the dose administered and the plasma concentration observed in the therapeutic dose range. The volume of distribution is approximately 5 l/kg.

Metabolism: The parent compound trans-dembrexine occurs in plasma, liver and kidneys. Due to a first pass isomerization the stereoisomer of trans-dembrexine, i.e. cis-dembrexine, can also be found. Further metabolites occur as conjugates of dembrexine and there is also some highly polar material. Both trans- and cis-dembrexine are pharmacologically active.

Elimination: Dembrexine is eliminated with a half life in the order of 8 hours. Approximately 85% of the administered dose is excreted via urine and the remainder via faeces.