Dexashot

Dexashot PRESENTATION Clear, colourless aqueous solution for injection. Each 1 ml contains: Dexamethasone 2 mg (As dexamethasone sodium phosphate 2.63 mg)

TARGET SPECIES Cattle, horses, pigs, dogs and cats

USES Horses, cattle, pigs, dogs and cats: Treatment of inflammatory or allergic conditions. Cattle: Induction of parturition Treatment of primary ketosis (acetonaemia). Horses: Treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis

DOSAGE Normal aseptic technique should be observed. To measure small volumes of less than 1 ml a suitably graduated syringe should be used to ensure accurate administration of the correct dose. Horses Intramuscular, intravenous or intraarticular administration. Cattle, pigs, dogs and cats Intramuscular administration. For the treatment of inflammatory or allergic conditions the following doses administered as single intramuscular injection are advised • Horses, cattle, pigs 0.06 mg of dexamethasone/kg body weight corresponding to 1.5 ml of product/50 kg BW • Dog, cat 0.1 mg of dexamethasone/ kg body weight corresponding to 0.5 ml of product /10 kg BW For the treatment of primary ketosis in cattle (acetonaemia) 0.02-0.04 mg of dexamethasone /kg body weight corresponding to a dose 5-10 ml of product per 500 kg BW ) given by single intramuscular injection is advocated dependent on the size of the cow and the duration of the signs. Larger doses (i.e. 0.04 mg/kg) will be required if the signs have been present for some time or if relapsed animals are being treated. For the induction of parturition – to avoid foetal oversize and mammary oedema in cattle. A single intramuscular injection of 0.04 mg of dexamethasone /kg body weight corresponding to 10 ml of product per 500 kg BW after day 260 of pregnancy. Parturition will normally occur within 48-72 hours. For the treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis by intra-articular injection in the horse. Dose 1 – 5 ml of product. These quantities are not specific and are quoted purely as a guide. Injections into joint spaces or bursae should be preceded by the removal of an equivalent volume of synovial fluid. Strict asepsis is essential.

OVERDOSE An overdose can induce drowsiness and lethargy in horses.

WITHDRAWAL PERIOD(S) Cattle: Meat and offal: 8 days Milk: 72 hours Pigs: Meat and offal: 2 days Horses: Meat and offal: 8 days Not authorised for use in horses producing milk for human consumption.

Dexashot PHARMACODYNAMIC PROPERTIES Dexamethasone is a potent synthetic glucocorticoid with low mineralocorticoid activity. Dexamethasone has ten to twenty times the anti-inflammatory activity of prednisolone at an equivalent molar dose. Corticosteroids may decrease the immune response. Indeed, they inhibit capillary dilatation, leukocyte migration and phagocytosis. Glucocorticoids have an effect on metabolism by increasing gluconeogenesis. Administration of dexamethasone mimics the effects of cortisol and therefore produces a signal that initiates the induction of parturition in ruminants if the fetus is alive.

Dexashot PHARMACOKINETIC PARTICULARS After administration of the product intramuscularly, dexamethasone sodium phosphate is rapidly absorbed and hydrolysed to dexamethasone (base) giving a rapid and short-acting response (approximately 48 hours). Tmax in cattle, goats, horses, swine, dogs and cats is reached within 30 minutes after intramuscular administration. T½ (half-life time) varies between 5 and 20 hours depending on the species. The bioavailability after intramuscular administration is approximately 100%.

CONTRAINDICATIONS Except in emergency situations, do not use in animals suffering from diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, cardiac insufficiency, hyperadrenocorticism, or osteoporosis. Do not use in viral infections during the viraemic stage or in cases of systemic mycotic infections.