Colvasone

Name:

 Colvasone

Category:

 Anti-Inflammatories

Region:

 United Kingdom

A sterile solution for injection containing Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Ph.Eur 2mg per ml, and Benzyl Alcohol Ph.Eur 20 mg per ml as preservative.

Dexamethasone is a synthetic corticosteroid with a highly potent anti-inflammatory action. Colvasone can be used for:
1. Intravenous therapy in cases where emergency treatment is indicated, particularly shock and circulatory collapse, fog fever, acute mastitis and burns.
2. Acetonaemia (ketosis) in cattle. Colvasone has a marked glucogenic action.
3. Inflammatory conditions in all species: Colvasone will suppress inflammation and is indicated in the treatment of arthritis, laminitis (excluding horses), dermatitis, etc.

By intravenous or intramuscular injection.
Normal aseptic precautions should be observed.

To ensure accuracy of dosing, a suitably graduated syringe should be used when treating small animals.

Cattle must not be slaughtered for human consumption during treatment. Cattle may be slaughtered for human consumption only after 21 days from the last treatment. Milk must not be taken for human consumption during treatment. Milk for human consumption may be taken from cows only from 72 hours after the last treatment.
Do not use in horses intended for human consumption.
Care should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection.
Systemic corticosteroid therapy is generally contra-indicated in patients with renal disease and diabetes mellitus.

Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, are known to exert a wide range of side-effects. Whilst single high doses are generally well tolerated, they may induce severe side-effects in long term use and when esters possessing a long duration of action are administered. Dosage in medium to long term use should therefore generally be kept to the minimum necessary to control symptoms.
Steroids themselves, during treatment, may cause Cushingoid symptoms involving significant alteration of fat, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism, e.g. redistribution of body fat, muscle weakness and wastage and osteoporosis may result. During therapy effective doses suppress the Hypothalamo-Pituitreal-Adrenal axis. Following cessation of treatment, symptoms of adrenal insufficiency extending to adrenocorticol atrophy can arise and this may render the animal unable to deal adequately with stressful situations. Consideration should therefore be given to means of minimising problems of adrenal insufficiency following the withdrawal of treatment, e.g. a gradual reduction of dosage (for further discussion see standard texts).

Systemically acting corticosteroids may cause polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia, particularly during the early stages of therapy. Some corticosteroids may cause sodium and water retention and hypokalaemia in long term use.

Systemic corticosteroids have caused deposition of calcium in the skin (calcinosis cutis).

Corticosteroids are not recommended for use in pregnant animals. Administration in early pregnancy is known to have caused foetal abnormalities in laboratory animals. Administration in late pregnancy may cause early parturition or abortion.

Corticosteroids may delay wound healing and the immunosuppressant actions may weaken resistance to or exacerbate existing infections. In the presence of bacterial infection, anti-bacterial drug cover is usually required when steroids are used. In the presence of viral infections, steroids may worsen or hasten the progress of the disease.

Gastrointestinal ulceration has been reported in animals treated with corticosteroids and g.i.t. ulceration may be exacerbated by steroids in patients given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and in corticosteroid-treated animals with spinal cord trauma. Steroids may cause enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly) with increased serum hepatic enzymes.

Use of the product in horses could induce laminitis and therefore careful observations during treatment should be made.

During a course of treatment the situation should be reviewed frequently by close veterinary supervision.

Do not store above 25C.

Keep out of reach of children.
Once a vial has been broached, the contents should be used within 28 days.
Discard any unused material. Dispose of any unused product and empty containers in accordance with guidance from your local waste regulation authority.
Wash hands after use.

POM-V

Multidose vials of 50 ml.

Norbrook Laboratories Ltd

Vm 02000/4009

Nil.