Target species
Cats.
Indications for use, specifying the target species
Reduction of proteinuria associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats.
Treatment of systemic hypertension in cats.
Contraindications
Do not use during pregnancy or lactation (see also section "Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay").
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
Special warnings for each target species
The safety and efficacy of telmisartan for the management of systemic hypertension above 200 mmHg has not been investigated.
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
The safety and efficacy of telmisartan has not been tested in cats under the age of 6 months.
It is good clinical practice to monitor the blood pressure of cats receiving the veterinary medicinal product which are under anaesthesia.
Due to the mode of action of the veterinary medicinal product, transient hypotension may occur. Symptomatic treatment, e.g. fluid therapy, should be provided in case of any clinical signs of hypotension. The dosage of telmisartan should be reduced if systolic blood pressure (SBP) is consistently lower than 120 mmHg or if there are concurrent signs of hypotension.
As known from substances acting on the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS), a slight decrease in red blood cell count may occur. Red blood cell count should be monitored during therapy.
Substances acting on the RAAS may lead to a reduction in glomerular filtration rate and worsening renal function in cats with severe kidney disease. The safety and efficacy of telmisartan in such patients has not been investigated. When using this product in cats with severe kidney disease, it is advisable to monitor renal function (plasma creatinine concentration).
In cats with hypertension it is good clinical practice to regularly monitor blood pressure.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Avoid eye contact. In case of accidental eye contact, rinse eyes with water.
Wash hands after use
Pregnant women should take special care to avoid contact with the product because substances acting on the RAAS, such as Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors (ACEis), have been found to affect the unborn child during pregnancy in humans.
People with hypersensitivity to telmisartan or other sartans/ARBs shuld avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment
Not applicable.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
Cats:
Rare (1 to 10 animals / 10,000 animals treated): | Gastrointestinal signs (regurgitation1, vomiting2, diarrhoea2). Elevated renal parameters (creatinine and/or blood urea nitrogen), chronic renal failure. |
Very rare (<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports): | Elevated liver enzymes3 Decreased red blood cell counts (see section "Special precautions for use"). |
1 Mild and intermittent
2 Vomiting and diarrhoea are commonly reported when given at the initial treatment dose of 2 mg/kg for systemic hypertension. Mild and transient.
3 Values normalised within a few days following cessation of therapy.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See also the last section of the package leaflet for respective contact details.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been established in breeding, pregnant or lactating cats.
Do not use during pregnancy or lactation (see section "Contraindications").
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
No drug-drug interactions are known from available data in cats with CKD and/or hypertension for the use of telmisartan and other medicinal products that lower blood pressure (such as amlodipine) or interfere with RAAS (such as ARBs or ACEis). The combination of such agents may lead to additive hypotensive effects or may alter renal function.
During concomitant therapy with amlodipine at the recommended dose for the reduction of proteinuria associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats, no clinical evidence of hypotension was observed.
Amounts to be administered and administration route
Oral use.
The product is to be administered once daily directly into the mouth or with a small amount of food.
The veterinary medicinal product is an oral solution and is well accepted by most cats.
The solution should be given using the measuring syringe provided in the package. The syringe fits onto the bottle and has a ml scale.
After administration of the veterinary medicinal product, close the bottle tightly with the cap, was the measuring syringe with water and let it dry.
To avoid contamination, use the provided syringe only to administer the veterinary medicinal product.
CKD - amounts to be administered once daily:
The recommended dose is 1 mg telmisartan/kg body weight.
Dosing: 1 mg telmisartan/kg body weight |
Strength [mg/ml] | Dosage/kg bodyweight [ml] |
4 | 0.25 |
10 | 0.1 |
Systemic hypertension - amounts to be administered once daily:
The initial recommended dose is 2 mg telmisartan/kg body weight.
Dosing: 2 mg telmisartan/kg body weight |
Strength [mg/ml] | Dosage/kg body weight [ml] |
4 | 0.5 |
10 | 0.2 |
After 4 weeks, the dosage of telmisartan may be reduced in cats with systolic blood pressure (SBP) of less than 140 mmHg (in 0.5 mg/kg increments) at the discretion of the veterinarian.
If he SBP increases over the course of the disease, the daily dose may be increased again up to 2 mg/kg.
The target SBP range is between 120 and 140 mmHg. If SBP is below the target or if there are concurrent signs of hypotension, please refer to section 4.5. (Special precautions for use).
Systemic hypertension associated with CKD - amounts to be administered once daily:
The dosing regimen for hypertensive cats with concomitant chronic kidney disease is as described above for systemic hypertension, except that for these cats the recommended minimum effective dose is 1 mg/kg.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
After administration of up to 5 mg/kg body weight for 6 months to young adult healthy cats, adverse reactions observed were consistent with those mentioned in section "Adverse reactions".
Administration of the product at overdose (up to 5 mg/kg body weight for 6 months) resulted in marked reductions in blood pressure, decreases in red blood cell count (effects attributable to the pharmacological activity of the product) and increases in Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN).
In the event that hypertension does occur, symptomatic treatment, e.g. fluid therapy, should be provided.
Withdrawal
Not applicable.