SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1. NAME OF THE VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Euthoxin 500 mg/ml solution for injection

Euthoxin vet 500 mg/ml solution for injection (SE and FI))

Euthoxin solution for injection (FR)

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each ml contains

Active substance:

Pentobarbital 455.7 mg

(equivalent to 500 mg pentobarbital sodium)

Excipients:

Erythrosine red (E127) 0.05 mg

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Solution for injection.

Clear, pink solution

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Target species

Dogs, cats, minks, polecats, hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds, small snakes, tortoises, lizards, frogs, horses, cattle, pigs.

4.2 Indications for use, specifying the target species

For euthanasia.

4.3 Contraindications

Do not use for anaesthetic purposes.

Do not use for intracoelomic injection in chelonia as the time to death may be unnecessarily prolonged compared with intravenous administration.

4.4 Special warnings for each target species

To reduce the risk of CNS excitement, it is recommended to perform euthanasia in a quiet area.

Pigs:

In pigs, it was shown that there is a direct correlation between restraint and level of excitation and agitation. Therefore, injection in swine should be done with the least amount of restraint necessary.

Horse, cattle:

In horses and cattle, premedication with an appropriate sedative must be used to produce profound sedation before euthanasia, and an alternative method of euthanasia should be available should it become necessary.

When euthanasia of poikilothermsis undertaken, the animal must be maintained at its preferred optimum temperature, otherwise efficacy may be unreliable. Species appropriate measures (e.g. pithing) should be taken to ensure that euthanasia is complete and that spontaneous recovery does not occur.

Venomous snakesare best euthanised by injecting pentobarbital solution into the body cavity near the heart, with judicious use of prior sedation in order to minimise danger to humans.

Intravenous injection of pentobarbital has the ability to cause CNS excitement in several species of animal and adequate sedation should be administered if deemed necessary by the veterinary surgeon. Measures must be taken to avoid perivascular administration (e.g. by using an intravenous catheter).

The intraperitonealroute of administration may cause a prolonged onset of action with an increased risk of CNS excitement. Intraperitoneal administration must only be used following appropriate sedation. Measures must be taken to avoid administration into the spleen or organs/tissue with low capacity for absorption. This route of administration is only suitable for small mammals.

Intracardiacinjection must only be used if the animal is heavily sedated, unconscious or anaesthetised.

The intrapulmonaryroute of administration may cause a prolonged onset of action with an increased risk of adverse effects noted in 4.6 and must be reserved for cases where other routes of administration are not possible. Intrapulmonary administration may only be used in chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds, snakes, tortoises, lizards and frogs. Animals must be heavily sedated, unconscious or anaesthetised before this route of administration is employed. Do not use intrapulmonary administration in any other target animal species.

Check regularly, up to about 10 minutes post-administration, in case signs of life return (respiration, heartbeat, corneal reflex). In clinical trials it has been established that signs of life may return. If this occurs, it is advised to repeat the administration using between 0.5 and 1 times the recommended dose.

4.5 Special precautions for use

Special precautions for use in animals

Do not use in animals intended for human or animal consumption.

Carcasses of animals euthanised with this product should be disposed of in accordance with national legislation. Carcasses of animals euthanised with this product should not be fed to other animals due to the risk of secondary intoxication.

In the event of accidental administration to an animal not presented for euthanasia, measures such as artificial respiration, administration of oxygen and the use of analeptics are appropriate

Pigs and small animals: See also section 4.9 for recommendations regarding dilution of product

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals

For use by a veterinary surgeon only.

Pentobarbital is a potent hypnotic and a sedative, and thus potentially toxic in man. It can be absorbed systemically through the skin and if swallowed. Particular care should be taken to avoid accidental ingestion and self-injection. Only carry this product in an unarmed syringe to avoid accidental injection.

Systemic uptake (including absorption via skin or eye) of pentobarbital causes sedation, sleep, CNS and respiratory depression. Moreover, this product may be irritating to the eye and can cause irritation to the skin as well as hypersensitivity reactions (due to the presence of pentobarbital). Embryotoxic effects cannot be excluded.

Avoid direct contact with the skin and eyes, including hand-to-eye contact.

This product is flammable. Keep away from sources of ignition.

Do not smoke, eat or drink while handling the product.

Avoid accidental self-injection or accidental injection of other persons when administering the product.

People with known hypersensitivity to pentobarbital should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.

Handle the product with utmost care, especially pregnant and breastfeeding women. Wear protective gloves. This medicine should only be administered by veterinarians and should only be used in the presence of another professional that can assist in case of accidental exposure. Instruct the professional if not a medical professional about the risks of the product.

Accidental spillage on the skin or in the eye must be washed off immediately with plenty of water. If there has been serious skin or eye contact or in the case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician. In the case of accidental ingestion, wash out mouth and obtain medical attention immediately. But DO NOT DRIVE as sedation may occur.

After administration of this product, collapse will occur within 10 seconds. In case the animal is standing at time of administration, care should be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product and any other persons present to keep a safe distance from the animal to avoid injury.

Information for the health professional in case of exposure:

Emergency measures should be directed toward maintenance of respiration and cardiac function. In severe intoxication measures to enhance elimination of absorbed barbiturate may be necessary.

The concentration of pentobarbital in the product is such that the accidental injection or ingestion of quantities as small as 0.8 ml in human adults can have serious CNS effects. A dose of pentobarbital sodium of 1g (equivalent to 2 ml of product) has been reported to be fatal in humans. Treatment should be supportive with appropriate intensive therapy and maintenance of respiration.

4.6 Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)

Minor muscle twitching may occur after injection. In cattle, gasping may occur if pentobarbital is administered below the recommended dose.

Use of the product may result in transient agitation and symptoms of shortness of breath.

Death may be delayed if the injection is administered perivascularly or into organs/tissues with low capacity for absorption.

Barbiturates can cause irritation when administered subcutaneously or perivascularly.

Administration by the intrapulmonary route causes coughing, gasping and respiratory distress.

Frequencies of adverse reactions:

- common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals) Vocalisation, minor muscle twitching after injection

- uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals) One or few gasps after cardiac arrest

- rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals) Excitation, leg movements, defecation and urine loss, gasping (in cattle), mostly due to under-dosing

- very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals, including isolated reports) Convulsions, contraction of the diaphragm, vomiting

4.7 Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

If euthanasia is necessary, the product can be used in pregnant or lactating animals.

The increased body weight of pregnant animals should be taken into account in the dose calculation. Whenever possible, the product should be injected intravenously. The foetus must not be removed from the maternal body (e.g. for examination purposes) earlier than 25 minutes after confirmation of the death of the mother. In this case, the foetus is to be examined for signs of life and, if necessary, euthanised separately.

4.8 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

CNS depressant drugs (narcotics, phenothiazines, antihistamines, etc) may increase the effect of pentobarbital

4.9 Amounts to be administered and administration route

Depending on species and circumstances this product may be administered via several routes.

The applicable dose depends on animal species and route of administration. Therefore, the instructions described in the dosage scheme should be carefully followed:

Intravenous route

The intravenous route of administration should be the route of choice and adequate sedation should be administered if deemed necessary by the attending veterinarian. For horses and cattle premedication is mandatory.

Intracardiac route

Where intravenous administration is difficult, and only following deep sedation or anaesthesia, the product may be administered via the intracardiac route in all named species except avian species.

Intraperitoneal route

Alternatively, for small animals only, administration via the intraperitoneal route could be used, but only following appropriate sedation.

Intrapulmonary route

Intrapulmonary administration must only be used as a last resortand only if the animal is heavily sedated, unconscious or anaesthetised and shows no response to noxious stimuli. This route of administration may only be used in chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds, snakes, tortoises, lizards and frogs.

Recommendations for dilution of product

Pigs (in case of administration in ear vein) and small animals (dogs, cats, mink, polecats, hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds): For ease of administration the product should be diluted with isotonic (0.9%) sodium chloride solution in a mixing ration of 1:1 prior to administration with needles thinner than 20G.

	Route	ml of the product per kg bw	Dose expressed as mg pentobarbital sodium
Horses The product should be injected as quickly as possible. Premedication before administration is mandatory.	Intravenous (rapid injection)	1.0 ml per 5 kg	100 mg/kg
Cattle The product should be injected as quickly as possible. In cattle, in particular at lower dosages, it is possible to observe gasping in isolated cases. Premedication before administration is mandatory.	Intravenous (rapid injection)	1 - 2 ml per 10 kg	50mg to 100 mg/kg
Pigs The product should be injected as quickly as possible. The route of administration depends on the age and weight of the individual and can be intravenous (vena cava cranialis or ear vein) or intracardiac. The injection duration can - depending on the age and body weight of the pig – vary from 1 second (piglets) and 38 seconds (in boars> 100 kg body weight).	Intravenous (vena cava cranialis) by rapid injection Intravenous (ear vein) by rapid injection after dilution with isotonic (0.9%) NaCl solution at a ratio of 1:1 Intracardiac (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients)	0.16 ml/kg up to 30 kg 0.08 ml/kg over 30 kg 0.16 ml/kg up to 30 kg 0.08 ml/kg over 30 kg 0.16 ml/kg up to 30 kg 0.08 ml/kg over 30 kg	80 mg /kg up to 30kg 40 mg /kg over 30kg 80 mg /kg up to 30kg 40 mg /kg over 30kg 80 mg /kg up to 30kg 40 mg /kg over 30kg
Dogs & Cats	Intravenous; slow continuous injection until unconscious then rapid injection of remaining quantity Intracardiac & intraperitoneal: in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients	ml per 4 kg Dog 1.0 ml per 3 kg Cat 1.0 ml per 3 kg Dog 1.0 ml per 2 kg Cat	125 mg/kg Dog 166 mg/kg Cat 166 mg/kg Dog 250 mg/kg Cat
Mink, polecats	Intravenous Intracardiac (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients)	ml per animal	500 mg per animal
Hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice	Intravenous Intracardiac (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients) Intraperitoneal (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients)	ml per 1.5 kg 1.0 ml per 1kg	333 mg/kg 500 mg/kg
Chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds The method of choice in birds is intravenous injection. If venepuncture cannot be performed (due to e.g. haematoma, collapse of cardiovascular system) intrapulmonary injection could be an option. In birds, intrapulmonary injection is performed by inserting the cannula in a dorso-ventral direction on the left or right side of the backbone into the lung (3rd or 4th intercostal segment between backbone and scapula).	Intravenous & Intrapulmonary(in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients)	1.0 ml per 1 kg	500 mg/kg
Small snakes, tortoises, lizards, frogs	Depending on the size, inject into the body cavity near the heart; death is expected after about 5 to 10 minutes in unconscious or deeply sedated /anaesthetised patients	0.4 – 0.8 ml per animal	200 to 400 mg per animal

This veterinary medicinal product does not contain any antimicrobial preservative.

The stopper should not be punctured more than 50 times.

4.10 Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary

Not applicable.

4.11 Withdrawal period(s)

Not applicable

Adequate measures should be taken to ensure that carcasses of animals treated with this product and the by-products of these animals do not enter the food chain and are not used for human or animal consumption.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Pharmacotherapeutic group: barbiturates

ATCvet code: QN51AA01

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Pentobarbital is a narcotic belonging to the group of barbituric acid derivatives. The LD50 in dogs and cats is approximately 40 to 60 mg/kg bodyweight when injected intravenously. However, for euthanasia of animals highly excessive doses are administered. In endothermic animals, the immediate effect is the loss of consciousness followed by deep anaesthesia followed by death. Breathing stops and is quickly followed by cardiac arrest. In poikilothermic animals death may be delayed depending upon the rate of absorption and metabolism of the product.

Following intracardiac use unconsciousness is almost immediate and cardiac arrest follows within 10 seconds. Following intravenous use unconsciousness follows in 5 -10 seconds after completion of administration. Death follows 5 - 30 seconds later. Intraperitoneally, euthanasia is achieved in 3 - 10 minutes (due to depression of the respiratory centre, the animal may be clinically dead prior to cardiac arrest).

5.2 Pharmacokinetic particulars

The distribution of pentobarbital in the organism is quite even. The highest concentrations were found in the liver. In adipose tissue no accumulation could be shown. Pentobarbital passes the placental barrier and also enters milk. The elimination half-life has been reported to be approximately 1 hour in small ruminants, 2 to 7.5 hours in cats and 7 to 12.5 hours in dogs.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Erythrosine red E127

Propylene glycol

Water for injections

6.2 Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies, this veterinary medicinal product must not be mixed with other veterinary medicinal products except sterile, isotonic sodium chloride (0.9%) solution.

6.3 Shelf life

Shelf-life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 3 years

Shelf-life after first opening the immediate packaging: 28 days

6.4. Special precautions for storage

This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

6.5 Nature and composition of immediate packaging

100 ml Type I amber multi-dose glass vials closed with a bromobutyl rubber stopper and sealed with an aluminium overseal. The product is presented in a carton.

6.6 Special precautions for the disposal of unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from the use of such products

Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from such veterinary medicinal products should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Chanelle Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Ltd.

Loughrea

Co. Galway

Ireland

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER

Vm 08749/4055

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

11 April 2016

10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

April 2016

Approved: 11/04/2016