SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1. Name of the veterinary medicinal product

Levacide Drench 3% Oral Solution

2. Qualitative and quantitative composition

Active Substance:

3% w/v Levamisole Hydrochloride (equivalent to 2.5%w/v levamisole)

Excipients:

Methyl Hydroxybenzoate 0.15% w/v as antimicrobial preservative, sodium metabisulphite 0.15% w/v and disodium edetate dihydrate 0.05% w/v as antioxidants and Tartrazine (E102) 0.011% w/v as colourant.

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1

3. Pharmaceutical form

Oral solution

A clear yellow liquid

4. Clinical Particulars

4.1 Target species

Cattle and sheep

4.2 Indications for use, specifying the target species

A broad spectrum anthelmintic for use in the treatment and control of nematode infections. It should be used in cases of parasitic gastro-enteritis and lungworm disease caused by mature and developing immature forms of those organisms sensitive to treatment with Levamisole Hydrochloride.

Lungworms: Dictyocaulus spp.

Gastrointestinal worms: Haemonchus spp

Ostertagia spp (except inhibited Ostertagia larvae in cattle).

Nematodirusspp

Trichostrongylusspp

Cooperia spp

Oesophagostomum spp

Chabertia spp

Bunostomum spp

4.3 Contraindications

Animals must not be treated within a period of 14 days before or after treatment with organophosphorus compounds.

4.4 Special Warnings for each target species

Care should be taken to avoid the following practices because they increase the risk of development of resistance and could ultimately result in ineffective therapy:

• Too frequent and repeated use of anthelmintics from the same class, over an extended period of time.

• Underdosing, which may be due to underestimation of body weight, misadministration of the product, or lack of calibration of the dosing device (if any)

Suspected clinical cases of resistance to anthelmintics should be further investigated using appropriate tests (e.g. Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test). Where the results of the test(s) strongly suggest resistance to a particular anthelmintic, an anthelmintic belonging to another pharmacological class and having a different mode of action should be used.

Resistance to levamisole has been reported in Teladorsagia, Cooperiaand Trichostrongylusspecies in sheep in a number of countries, including the EU. There are reports of resistance in Haemonchusin sheep outside the EU. Resistance to levamisole has been reported in Teladorsagiaspecies in cattle in developed countries such as New Zealand. Therefore the use of this product should be based on local (regional, farm) epidemiological information about susceptibility of nematodes and recommendations on how to limit further selection for resistance to anthelmintics.

In cases of lungworm infections coughing may persist for a considerable time following successful treatment. This is due to damage caused by the parasites.

4.5 Special precautions for use

i. Special precautions for use in animals

Care should be taken to estimate accurately the liveweight of animals to be treated. After treatment animals should be moved to clean pasture in order to prevent re-infection.

Veterinary advice should be sought:

a) On appropriate dosing programmes and stock management to achieve adequate parasite control, and to reduce the likelihood of anthelmintic resistance developing.

b) If the product does not achieve the desired clinical effect since other diseases, nutritional disturbances or anthelmintic resistance might be involved.

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

Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product. Wash splashes from eyes and skin immediately. If irritation persists seek medical advice. Remove any contaminated clothing immediately. Wash hands and exposed skin after handling this product and before meals.

Levamisole can cause idiosyncratic reactions and serious blood disorders in a very small number of people. If symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting or abdominal discomfort are experienced when using this product, or sore mouth, throat or fever occur shortly afterwards, then medical advice should be sought immediately.

4.6 Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)

None

4.7 Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

The product can be safely administered to pregnant or lactating animals. However care should be taken when treating heavily pregnant animals and animals under stress from adverse weather conditions, poor nutrition, penning, handling etc.

4.8 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Levamisole activity is not affected by benzimidazole resistance.

4.9 Amounts to be administered and administration route

Administer as an oral drench using a dosing gun system at a rate of 7.5 mg Levamisole hydrochloride per kg bodyweight. Cattle should be dosed at a rate of 2.5 ml of product per 10 kg bodyweight and sheep at a rate of 0.5 ml per 2 kg bodyweight.

CATTLE - 2.5 ml per 10 kg bodyweight

BODYWEIGHT DOSE

50 kg (approx 1 cwt) 12.5 ml

100 kg (approx 2 cwt) 25 ml

150 kg (approx 3 cwt) 37.5 ml

200 kg (approx 4 cwt) 50 ml

250 kg (approx 5 cwt) 62.5 ml

300 kg (approx 6 cwt) 75 ml

(Cattle over 300 kg, a further 2.5 ml per additional 10 kg)

SHEEP - 0.5 ml per 2 kg bodyweight

BODYWEIGHT DOSE

10 kg (approx 22 lb) 2.5 ml

20 kg (approx 44 lb) 5 ml

30 kg (approx 66 lb) 7.5 ml

40 kg (approx 88 lb) 10 ml

50 kg (approx 110 lb) 12.5 ml

60 kg (approx 132 lb) 15 ml

(Sheep over 60 kg, a further 0.5 ml per additional 2 kg)

To ensure administration of a correct dose, bodyweight should be determined as accurately as possible; accuracy of the dosing device should be checked.

Do not mix with other products

Safe for use in cattle and sheep at the recommended dosages however, if recommended doses are exceeded animals may exhibit signs of impaired motor functions such as muscle tremors and increased salivation, which are of a temporary nature.

Cattle – Meat: 14 days

Sheep – Meat 21 days

Not for use in cattle and sheep producing milk for human consumption.

5. pharmacological properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Anthelmintic

ATC Vet Code: QP52AE01

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Levamisole Hydrochloride is the levo isomer of dl 2, 3, 5, 6-Tetrahydro-6-phenyl-imidazo (2,1-b) thiazole Hydrochloride. Levamisole was found to be active against adult and immature gastro-intestinal and pulmonary nematodes when administered to experimentally infected animals by the oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular or intraperitoneal routes. It is thought to act by paralysing the susceptible parasites which are then expelled from the alimentary canal.

6. Pharmaceutical particulars

6.1 List of excipients

Methyl Hydroxybenzoate

Sodium Metabisulphite

Disodium Edetate Dihydrate

Tartrazine (E102)

Sodium Citrate Dihydrate

Citric Acid Anhydrous

Water, Purified

6.2 Incompatibilities

None known

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 2 Years.

Do not store above 25ºC.

Protect from light.

Available in 1, 2.5 and 5 litre white opaque low density polyethylene flexi-packs with white screw fit polypropylene cap. Also available in 10 litre white opaque high density polyethylene jerry cans with a white screw fit polypropylene cap.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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

Norbrook Laboratories Limited

Station Works

Newry

Co. Down

BT35 6JP

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)

Vm02000/4054

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

Date of First Authorisation: 04 April 1984

10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

June 2010