Target species
Cattle, pigs and horses.
Indications for use, specifying the target species
Cattle:
-Alleviation of clinical signs of respiratory disease when used concurrently with appropriate anti-infective therapy.
Pigs:
-To support appropriate antibiotic therapy in the treatment of Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia syndrome.
-Alleviation of fever associated with respiratory disease when used in conjunction with specific antibiotic therapy.
Horses:
-Alleviation of inflammation and pain associated with musculo-skeletal disorders.
-Alleviation of visceral pain associated with colic.
Contraindications
Do not use in animals suffering from chronic musculo-skeletal disorders.
Do not use in animals suffering from cardiac, hepatic or renal disease.
Do not use in animals with gastro-intestinal lesions (gastro-intestinal ulceration or bleeding).
Do not use in case of haemorrhagic disorders.
Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to flunixin meglumine, other NSAIDs or any of the excipients.
Do not use in animals suffering from colic caused by ileus and associated with dehydration.
Do not use the product within 48 hours before expected parturition in cows. In such cases an increase in the number of stillbirths has been observed.
Do not exceed the stated dose or the duration of treatment
See also section Use in pregnancy, lactation or lay.
Special warnings for each target species
The underlying cause of the inflammatory condition or colic must be determined and treated with appropriate concomitant therapy.
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
Use in any animal less than 6 weeks of age (cattle and horses) or in aged animals may involve additional risk. If such use cannot be avoided, animals may require a reduced dosage and careful clinical management.
It is preferable that NSAIDs which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis are not administered to animals undergoing general anaesthesia until fully recovered.
Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animal except in the case of endotoxaemia or septic shock.
In rare cases, shock (potentially fatal), may occur after intravenous injection, due to a high quantity of propylene glycol in the medicinal product. The product must be injected slowly and at body temperature. Stop injection at the first signs of intolerance and treat for shock if necessary.
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, flunixin may mask clinical signs and therefore possible resistance to antibiotic treatment.
NSAIDs are known to have the potential to delay parturition through a tocolytic effect by inhibiting prostaglandins that are important in signalling the initiation of parturition. The use of the product in the immediate post-partum period may interfere with uterine involution and expulsion of fetal membranes resulting in retained placentae.
See also section Use in pregnancy, lactation or lay.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
The product may cause a reaction in sensitive persons.
People with known hypersensitivity to substances belonging to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory group should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product. Hypersensitivity reactions may be serious.
Avoid contact with skin or eyes.
In case of skin contact, wash exposed area with soap and plenty of water. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.
In case of contact with the eyes, wash eyes thoroughly with clean water and seek medical advice.
Avoid risk of ingestion, do not eat or drink when using the product and wash hands after use. In case of ingestion of the product seek medical advice.
In case of accidental self injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
As with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, idiosyncratic renal or hepatic untoward effects may be observed.
In rare cases, fatal anaphylactic reactions (collapse) have been observed in cattle and horses, mainly during rapid intravenous injection.
Untoward effects include bleeding, gastro-intestinal lesions (irritation, gastric ulceration), vomiting and renal damage mainly in dehydrated or hypovolaemic animals can occur very rarely.
In the horse, after intravenous injection, blood in the faeces has been reported very rarely as well as liquid diarrhoea.
In cattle, a reaction at the injection site may be observed very rarely following intramuscular injection
The product may delay parturition and increase stillbirths through a tocolytic effect by inhibiting prostaglandins that are important in signalling the initiation of parturition. The use of the product in the immediate post-partum period may result in retained placentae.
See also section Use in pregnancy, lactation or lay.
In case of untoward effects stop treatment and seek medical advice.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
Studies in laboratory animals have produced evidence of foetotoxicity from flunixin after oral administration (rabbit and rat) and intramuscular administration (rat) at maternotoxic doses as well as an increase in the gestation period (rat).
The safety of flunixin has not been assessed in pregnant mares, breeding stallions and bulls. Do not use in these animals.
The safety of flunixin was demonstrated in pregnant cows and sows, as well as boars. The product may be used in these animals except within the 48 hours preceding parturition (see sections Contraindications and Adverse reactions).
The product should only be administered within the first 36 hours post-partum following a benefit/risk assessment performed by the responsible veterinarian, and treated animals should be monitored for retained placentae.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Do not administer other NSAIDs concurrently or within 24 hours of each other, as it may increase the toxicity, mainly gastro-intestinal, even with low doses of acetylsalicylic acid.
The concurrent administration of corticoids may increase toxicity of the two products and increase the risk of gastro-intestinal ulceration. It should therefore be avoided.
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.
Concurrent administration of potentially nephrotoxic drugs, particularly aminoglycosides, should be avoided.
Flunixin may reduce renal elimination of some drugs and increase their toxicity, such as aminoglycosides for example.