SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1. NAME OF THE VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Rycoben SC 2.50 % w/v Oral Suspension for sheep

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Active ingredients	% w/v
Albendazole oxide (ricobendazole) Other Ingredients:	2.50
Cobalt sulphate (heptahydrate) [equivalent to 0.377% w/v elemental cobalt]	1.80
Sodium selenate (anhydrous) [equivalent to 0.041% w/v elemental selenium] Antimicrobial preservatives:	0.097
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate	0.15
Propyl parahydroxybenzoate	0.015
Sodium Metabisulphate	0.1

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Oral suspension.

A pink coloured aqueous oral suspension

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Target species

Sheep

4.2 Indications for use, specifying the target species

Broad spectrum worm and fluke drench;

For the control of adult and larval stages of benzimidazole-sensitive gastrointestinal roundworms (Bunostomum, Chabertia, Cooperia, Haemonchus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Ostertagia, Strongyloides andTrichostrongylus), tapeworms (Moniezia) and lungworms (Dictyocaulus filaria), and for the control of adult liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) and the treatment of chronic, but not acute, fascioliasis in sheep.

Ovicidal to round worm eggs.

Also aids in the prevention of cobalt and selenium deficiency.

4.3 Contraindications

Ewes should not be treated at the fluke and worm dose during tupping and until one month after the tups are removed.

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

Not recommended for use in cattle.

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 benzimidazoles has been reported in Teladorsagia, Haemonchus, Cooperia, and Trichostrongylus species in small ruminants. 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.

4.5 Special precautions for use

i. Special precautions for use in animals

Shake container well before use.

For oral administration only.

The product should only be used in areas known to be deficient in cobalt and selenium. Do not administer other cobalt and selenium supplements concurrently unless specifically advised by your vet. If in doubt, consult a veterinary surgeon.

Not to be diluted.

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

Wash hands after use.

Avoid direct contact with the product.

In the case of accidental eye exposure, flush copiously with water for at least 15 minutes, holding the eye open, and seek medical attention.

In the event of accidental skin exposure, wash the affected area with soap and water. If irritation persists, seek medical attention.

4.6 Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)

If you notice any side effects, or you think that the medicine has not worked, please inform your veterinary surgeon.

4.7 Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

At the worm dose, Rycoben SC for Sheep is suitable for the treatment of sheep of all ages; however, care should be taken not to exceed the recommended dose, especially during the first month of pregnancy.

Ewes should not be treated at the fluke and worm dose during tupping and until one month after the tups are removed.

Ensure careful handling of ewes if used near lambing time.

4.8 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None known

4.9 Amounts to be administered and administration route

Do not mix with other products.

Administer orally using standard drenching equipment.

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

Use the dose volume appropriate to the heaviest animals when treating on a group basis.

Worm Dose:

Dosage: 5mg albendazole oxide* per kg bodyweight (1ml per 5kg bodyweight). The dosage rates of trace elements are 0.75mg cobalt per kg and 0.08mg selenium per kg bodyweight.

Bodyweight	Dosage	Doses per litre
Up to 10kg	2 ml	500
11–20kg	4 ml	250
21-30kg	6 ml	166
31–40kg	8 ml	125
41–50kg	10 ml	100
51-60kg	12 ml	83
60-70kg	14 ml	71
Over 70kg	16 ml	62

Dosing Programme:

Ewes and gimmers

Dose ewes 2-6 weeks before lambing and again soon after lambing. On heavily stocked pastures, treatment at intervals of 3-4 weeks may be necessary until autumn. Otherwise treat prior to tupping and at housing.

Lambs and hoggs

Lambs at risk from Nematodirus infection require dosing at 2 week intervals. Otherwise treat lambs from 4-6 weeks of age and hoggs from late May at 3 week intervals until autumn. Dose at weaning and move to clean pasture. If clean pasture is unavailable, dose at 3-4 week intervals until sold, or until early winter.

Treat all bought-in sheep before allowing to mix with the flock. (N.B. Most independent advice recommends the use of an avermectin (3-AV) containing product at this time).

Fluke and Worm Dose:

Dosage: 7.5mg albendazole oxide* per kg bodyweight (1.5ml per 5kg bodyweight). The dosage rates of trace elements are 1.125mg cobalt per kg and 0.12mg selenium per kg bodyweight.

Bodyweight	Dosage	Doses per litre
Up to 7kg	2 ml	500
8-13kg	4 ml	250
14-20kg	6 ml	166
21-26kg	8ml	125
27-33kg	10 ml	100
34-40kg	12 ml	83
41-46kg	14 ml	71
47-53kg	16 ml	62
54-59kg	18 ml	55
60-66kg	20 ml	50
67-73kg	22 ml	45
Over 73kg	24 ml	41

Dosing Programme:

Dose all ewes 2-6 weeks before and soon after lambing to reduce pasture contamination with roundworm eggs and control chronic fluke disease.

Dose all sheep in October/November and repeat at 4-6 week intervals until spring for outwintered stock.

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

The therapeutic margin for this product is high and problems due to overdosage are therefore unlikely.

4.11 Withdrawal period(s)

Meat: Animals must not be slaughtered for human consumption during treatment. Sheep may be slaughtered for human consumption only after 3 days from the last treatment.

Milk: Not for use in sheep producing milk for human consumption.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Anthelmintic

ATC vet code: QP52AC11

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

Albendazole oxide (ricobendazole) is an anthelmintic belonging to the benzimidazole group. Its mode of action, in common with other benzimidazoles is the disruption of microtubule formation by extensive binding to nematode tubulin. It is active against larval and adult stages, and is ovicidal.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic particulars

Albendazole oxide is slowly metabolised to a range of metabolites by hydroxylation, oxidation to sulphones, deacetylation to form amines and reduction to negligible amounts of albendazole. The most important metabolites are the sulphone and the 2-amino sulphone, neither of which is anthelmintically active.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Methyl Parahydroxybenzoate

Propyl Parahydroxybenzoate

Sodium Metabisulphate

Cobalt Sulphate Heptahydrate

Sodium Selenate (anhydrous)

Propylene Glycol

Xanthan Gum

Aluminium Magnesium Silicate

Sorbitan Monolaurate

Polysorbate 80

Simeticone

Di-Sodium Phosphate Dihydrate

Citric Acid Monohydrate

Purified Water

6.2 Incompatibilities

None known

6.3 Shelf life

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

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Store in tightly closed original container in a safe place.

Do not store above 25°C. Do not freeze.

Store away from food, drink and animal feedingstuffs.

6.5 Nature and composition of immediate packaging

A pink coloured aqueous suspension contained within a natural (translucent), low density polyethylene flexi-pack of 1, 2.5 or 5 litre capacity, closed with a white, polypropylene, screw cap and surlyn coated foil induction seal.

OR

White high density polyethylene backpacks containing 0.8, 2.2 or 5 litre closed with a screw fit blue polypropylene cap.

A separate dosing gun is available for the 1, 2.5 and 5 litre flexi pack presentations.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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

HARMFUL to fish and aquatic life. Do not contaminate ponds, waterways or ditches with the product or used container.

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

Elanco Europe Ltd

Form 2, Bartley Way

Bartley Wood Business Park

Hook

RG27 9XA

United Kingdom

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER

Vm 00879/4010

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

26 July 2000

10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

May 2021

Approved: 19/05/21