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Clinical particulars
Target speciesHorses
Indications for use, specifying the target species
Treatment of acute inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders in horses
Contraindications
Do not exceed the stated dose or duration of treatment.
Do not administer other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids concurrently or within 24 hours of each other.
Do not use in animals suffering from cardiac, hepatic or renal disease.
Do not use in animals suspected of having gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding.
Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
Do not use in dehydrated or hypovolaemic animals, except in the case of endotoxaemia or septic shock, as there is a potential risk of increased renal toxicity.
Do not use in animals suffering from chronic musculoskeletal disorders.
Special warnings for each target species
Use of the veterinary medicinal product may lead to temporary relief due to its ameliorating effects on inflammatory signs. This may appear as effective treatment of the underlying disease.
The cause of the underlying inflammatory condition should be determined and treated with appropriate concomitant therapy.
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
Animals should be rested and a sufficient supply of drinking water has to be ensured during the course of treatment with the veterinary medicinal product.
Use in any animal less than 6 weeks of age or in aged animals may involve additional risk.
Flunixin is toxic to avian scavengers. Do not administer to animals susceptible to enter wild fauna food chain. In case of death or sacrifice of treated animals, ensure that they are not made available to wild fauna
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
This product may cause serious adverse effects when ingested, particularly by children. Keep the product stored in a closed cabinet.
This product may cause hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions. Avoid skin contact with this product. Wear gloves during application. If you have known hypersensitivity reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), do not handle the product. In case of accidental contact with the skin wash exposed area immediately with plenty of water and soap. Hypersensitivity reactions may be serious. If you develop symptoms following exposure such as a skin rash, you should seek medical advice and show the physician this warning. Swelling of the face, lips or eyes or difficulty with breathing, are more serious symptoms and require urgent medical attention.
This product can cause eye-irritation. Avoid contact with the eyes. If the product comes into contact with the eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
As for all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, flunixin may damage the gastrointestinal mucosa and may cause renal damage particularly in hypovolemic and hypotensive conditions, e.g. during surgery. In very rare cases allergic reactions (allergic skin reactions, anaphylaxis) may occur after administration of the veterinary medicinal product.
The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:
- very common (more than 1 in 10 animals displaying adverse reaction(s)) - 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 and lactation
Do not use in pregnant mares since reproductive studies have not been conducted in horses.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Concurrent administration of potentially nephrotoxic drugs, particularly aminoglycosides, should be avoided. Some NSAIDs may be highly bound to plasma proteins and may compete with other highly bound drugs to produce an increase in non-bound pharmacologically active concentrations which can lead to toxic effects.
Prior or concurrent administration of steroidal or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is not recommended since they may enhance adverse reactions.
Do not use concurrently with the inhalation anesthetic methoxyfluran because of the potential risk of nephrotoxicity.
Flunixin may reduce the effect of some anti-hypertensive medicinal products, such as diuretics, angiotensin conversion enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and beta blockers, by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
For oral administration only.
1.1 mg flunixin per kg bodyweight once daily for a maximum of 5 days according to clinical response.
Each syringe delivers 1650 mg of flunixin, sufficient to treat 1500 kg bodyweight corresponding to a three days treatment for a 500 kg horse. The syringe is calibrated in 100 kg increments to facilitate dosing of horses of different weights.
Make sure the horse's mouth contains no feed. Insert the syringe into the horse's mouth at the interdental space. Advance the plunger as far as it will go, depositing the medication on the base of the tongue.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
In case of overdose, signs of toxicity such as gastrointestinal disorders and adverse reactions listed in section 4.6 can occur. In this case, the drug should be discontinued immediately and the animals treated symptomatically.
Withdrawal period(s)
Meat and offal: 15 days.
Not authorised for use in animals producing milk for human consumption.