Oral Paste.

A white homogenous paste

Horses

For the treatment of the following parasites of horses:

Ivermectin is not effective against encysted larval stages of the small strongyles.

Do not use in horses known to be hypersensitive to the active ingredient or to any other ingredients.

Do not use in dogs or cats as severe adverse reactions may occur.

See also section, "Withdrawal Period(s)"

The veterinary medicinal product has been formulated specifically for use in horses only. Dogs and cats may be adversely affected by the concentration of ivermectin in the veterinary medicinal product if they are allowed to ingest spilled paste or have access to used syringes.

As with all anthelmintics, a veterinary surgeon should establish appropriate dosing programmes and stock management to achieve adequate parasite control and reduce the likelihood of anthelmintic resistance developing.

Avermectins may not be well tolerated in all non-target species (cases of intolerance with fatal outcome are reported in dogs, especially Collies, Old English Sheepdogs and related breeds or crosses, and also in turtles/tortoises).

Do not smoke or eat while handling the veterinary medicinal product.

Wash hands after use.

Avoid eye contact.

Some horses carrying heavy infection of Onchocerca microfilariae have experienced oedema and pruritus following dosing, assumed to be the result of death of large numbers of microfilariae. These signs resolve within a few days but symptomatic treatment may be advisable.

Frequent and repeated use may lead to the development of resistance.

The veterinary medicinal product can be administered at any stage of pregnancy.

Ivermectin passes readily into milk. When administering to lactating females, residues of ivermectin could be present in the maternal milk. No studies have been reported on the effect of ingestion of milk on the development of newborn foals.

Do not use in mares producing milk for human consumption.

None known.

The veterinary medicinal product is administered orally at a single dose rate of 200 μg/kg of bodyweight. One syringe division of paste should be administered per 100 kg bodyweight [based on the recommended dosage of 200 μg/kg (0.2 mg/kg)]. Each syringe delivers 140 mg ivermectin, sufficient to treat 700 kg of bodyweight. Horses weight should be accurately determined for the correct use of the paste. The animal’s mouth should be free from food to ensure swallowing. The tip of the syringe barrel should be inserted at the interdental space (the gap between the front and back teeth). Immediately elevate the horse’s head for a few seconds to ensure swallowing.

Do not use the same syringe to treat more than one animal unless horses are running together or in direct contact with each other on the same premises.

For best results all horses in a yard or grazing together should be included in a regular parasite control programme, with particular attention being paid to mares, foals and yearlings, and treated at the same time. Foals should be treated initially at 6-8 weeks of age and routine treatment repeated as appropriate.

Retreatment should be done according to the epidemiological situation, but not less than 30 days interval.

Mild transitory signs (slowed pupillary light response and depression) have been seen at a higher dose of 1.8 mg/kg (9 times the recommended dose level). Other signs seen at higher doses include mydriasis, ataxia, tremors, stupor, coma and death. The less severe signs have been transitory.

Although no antidote has been identified, symptomatic therapy may be beneficial.

Meat and offal: 34 days

Not permitted in mares producing milk for human consumption.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Avermectins

ATC Vet Code: QP54AA01.

Ivermectin is a 22, 23-dihydro derivative of an avermectin (which is a fermentation product produced by Streptomyces avermitilis) and consists of 2 homologues: B1a and B1b. It is a parasiticide with nematocidal, insecticidal and acaricidal activity documented in a wide range of domesticated animals. Ivermectin is not effective in liver fluke and cestode infestations.

Avermectins bind selectively with glutamate-gated chloride ion channels, which occur in invertebrate nerve or muscle cells. This leads to an increase of the cell membrane permeability to chloride ions of the nerve or muscle cells, causing irreversible neuromuscular blockade in the parasite, followed by paralysis and death.

Compounds of this class may also interact with other ligand-gated chloride channels, such as those gated by the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Ivermectin stimulates GABA liberation at presynaptic nerve terminations (in Nematodes) or the neuromuscular junctions (in Arthropodes), that leads to the paralysis and death of the relevant parasites.

Resistance to ivermectin in horses has not been reported, however it is possible that frequent and repeated use may lead to the development of resistance.

After oral administration of the recommended dose to horses, the following parameters were observed: Cmax of 29 ng/ml, Tmax of 7 h, AUC of 1485 ng/ml.h and t½ of 55 h. Ivermectin is highly lipophilic and has good ability to penetrate to the location of parasites. It is stored in and slowly released from fat after which it is converted by the liver to less lipid soluble metabolites by oxidative biotransformation. The excretion route of the active substance occurs mainly in the bile and faeces. Less than 2% is eliminated via urine. Ivermectin is highly protein bound and clearance is slow.

Not applicable.

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

This is a unidose product. Please dispose of after use.

Do not store above 25°C. Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

Low-density polyethylene pre-filled syringes containing 7.49 g of product in cartons of 1, 2, 10 and 50 syringes.

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO FISH AND AQUATIC LIFE. Do not contaminate surface waters or ditches with product or used container. Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with national requirements.

Norbrook Laboratories Limited, Station Works, Camlough Road, Newry, Co Down, BT35 6JP Northern Ireland

28th October 2002

November 2023

Nil.