Colvasone

1 x 50 ml

Liquid for injection, solution

Active substance

Dexamethasone (Dexamethasone sodium phosphate) : 2 mg/ml

ATC code

QH02AB02 Dexamethasone (Corticosteroids - moderately potent (group II))

QH02AB Glucocorticoids

QH02A Corticosteroids for systemic use, plain

QH02 Corticosteroids for systemic use

QH Systemic hormonal preparations, excl. sex hormones and insulins

Species

Horses

Cattle

Dogs

Cats

Indications

Dexamethasone is a synthetic corticosteroid with a potent anti-inflammatory action.

Colvasone can be used for:

(1) Intravenous therapy in cases where emergency treatment is indicated, particularly shock and circulatory collapse, fog fever, acute mastitis and burns.

(2) Acetonaemia (ketosis) in cattle. Dexamethasone has a marked glucogenic action.

(3) Inflammatory conditions in all species: the product will suppress inflammation and is indicated in the treatment of arthritis, laminitis, dermatitis etc.

Dose to be administered and administration route

By intravenous or intramuscular injection.

Normal aseptic precautions should be observed.

Recommended Dosage Schedule:

Horses and cattle:	1 ml per 25 kg bodyweight
Dogs and cats: e.g.	1 ml per 10 kg bodyweight
Horses	500 kg - 20 ml
Cattle	400 kg - 16 ml
Dogs	10 kg - 1 ml
Cats	5 kg - 0.5 ml

To ensure accuracy of dosing, a suitably graduated syringe must be used when treating small animals.

Adverse reactions

Steroids themselves, during treatment, may cause Cushingoid symptoms involving significant alteration of fat, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism e.g. redistribution of body fat, muscle weakness and wastage and osteoporosis may result. During therapy effective doses suppress the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal axis. Following cessation of treatment, symptoms of adrenal insufficiency extending to adrenocortical atrophy can arise and this may render the animal unable to deal adequately with stressful situations. Consideration should therefore be given to means of minimising problems of adrenal insufficiency following the withdrawal of treatment, e.g. a gradual reductions of dosage (for further discussion see standard texts).

Systemically, acting corticosteroids may cause polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia, particularly during the early stages of therapy. Some corticosteroids may cause sodium and water retention and hypokalaemia in long term use.

Systemic corticosteroids have caused deposition of calcium in the skin (calcinosis cutis). Corticosteroids may delay wound healing and the immunosuppressant actions may weaken resistance to or exacerbate existing infections.

Gastrointestinal ulceration has been reported in animals treated with corticosteroids and gastrointestinal ulceration may be exacerbated by steroids in patients given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and in corticosteroidtreated animals with spinal cord trauma. Steroids may cause enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly) with increased serum hepatic enzymes.

In very rare cases, hypersensitivity reactions might occur.

The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention: - very common (more than 1 in 10 animals treated displaying adverse reaction(s))

- common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals treated)

- uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals treated)

- rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals treated) - very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports).