Loxicom Oral Suspension is indicated for the alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders.

It comes supplied in a bottle with a syringe for easy oral administration and is available for both cats and dogs.

Uses

Alleviation of inflammation and pain in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders in dogs.

Dosage & Administration

Initial treatment is a single dose of 0.2mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight (i.e. 1.33ml/10kg bodyweight) on the first day. Treatment is to be continued once daily by oral administration (at 24 hour interval) at a maintenance dose of 0.1mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight (i.e. 0.667ml/10kg bodyweight). For longer term treatment, once clinical response has been observed (after ≥ 4 days), the dose can be adjusted to the lowest effective individual dose reflecting that the degree of pain and inflammation associated with chronic musculoskeletal disorders may vary over time.

Particular care should be taken with regard to the accuracy of dosing. Please carefully follow the instructions of the veterinarian.

For oral use. To be administered with food or directly into the mouth. Shake well before use.

The suspension can be given using either of the two measuring syringes provided in the package. The syringes fit onto the bottle and have a kg-bodyweight scale which corresponds to the maintenance dose (i.e. 0.1mg meloxicam/kg bodyweight). Thus for initiation of the therapy on the first day, twice the maintenance volume will be required.

Alternatively therapy may be initiated with Loxicom 5mg/ml solution for injection.

A clinical response is normally seen within 3-4 days. Treatment should be discontinued after 10 days at the latest if no clinical improvement is apparent.

Avoid introduction of contamination during use.

Contraindictions, Warnings etc

Do not use in pregnant or lactating animals.

Do not use in animals suffering from gastrointestinal disorders such as irritation and haemorrhage, impaired hepatic, cardiac or renal function and haemorrhagic disorders.

Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.

Do not use in dogs less than 6 weeks of age.

Typical adverse reactions of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, faecal occult blood, apathy and renal failure have occasionally been reported. These adverse reactions occur generally within the first treatment week and are in most cases transient and disappear following termination of the treatment but in very rare cases may be serious or fatal.

If adverse reactions occur, treatment should be discontinued and the advice of a veterinarian should be sought. Avoid use in any dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypotensive animal, as there is a potential risk of renal toxicity.

Other NSAIDs, diuretics, anticoagulants, aminoglycoside antibiotics and substances with high protein binding may compete for binding and thus lead to toxic effects. Loxicom must not be administered in conjunction with other NSAIDs or glucocorticosteroids.

Pre-treatment with anti-inflammatory substances may result in additional or increased adverse effects and accordingly a treatment-free period with such veterinary medicinal products should be observed for at least 24 hours before commencement of treatment. The treatment-free period, however, should take into account the pharmacokinetic properties of the products used previously.

In the case of overdose symptomatic treatment should be initiated.

Operator Warning:

People with known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product. In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show this package leaflet or the label to the physician.


Pharmaceutical Precautions

Shelf-life after first opening the container: 6 months.

Do not use after the expiry date stated on the carton and the bottle.

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

Dispose of any unused product and empty container in accordance with guidance from your local waste regulation authority.

Further Information

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the oxicam class which acts by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiexudative and antipyretic effects. It reduces leukocyte infiltration into the inflamed tissue. To a minor extent it also inhibits collagen-induced thrombocyte aggregation. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that meloxicam inhibits cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) to a greater extent than cyclooxygenase 1 (COX 1).

Meloxicam is completely absorbed following oral administration and maximal plasma concentrations are obtained after approximately 4.5 hours. When the product is used according to the recommended dosage regime, steady state concentrations of meloxicam in plasma are reached on the second day of treatment. There is a linear relationship between the dose administered and plasma concentration observed in the therapeutic dose range in dogs.

Approximately 97% of meloxicam is bound to plasma proteins. The volume of distribution is 0.3 l/kg. Meloxicam is predominantly found in plasma and is also a major biliary excretion product whereas urine contains only traces of the parent compound. Meloxicam is metabolised to an alcohol, an acid derivative and to several polar metabolites. All major metabolites have been shown to be pharmacologically inactive. Meloxicam is eliminated with a half-life of 24 hours. Approximately 75 % of the administered dose is eliminated via faeces and the remainder via urine