Ilium Flunixil Injection

Actions
FLUNIXIL inhibits the wide ranging effects of prostaglandins within the body.

Indications
General: Use as a potent antipyretic, in antiplatelet therapy, in accident cases e.g. shock, trauma for heatstroke and for treating endotoxic/septic shock.

Musculoskeletal conditions: Alleviation of pain and inflammation that often causes lameness, discomfort, recumbency e.g. arthritis, intervertebral disc disease, navicular disease, contusions, abrasions, carpitis, tendonitis, gonitis, footrot, cellulitis, myosistis, laminitis etc. Also for suppression of post-operative swelling and lameness.

Gastrointestinal conditions: Restoration of normal peristalsis by relieving spasm of the smooth muscle, e.g. acute foal/calf/piglet (coliform) diarrhoea, parvovirus infections in dogs. Reduction of arterial hypoxaemia, lactic acidosis, colic and diarrhoea resulting from the prostaglandin released by damage to the intestinal endothelium. Relief of pain associated with equine colic and reduction of prostacycline-induced vasodilation and visceral pooling of blood in serious abdominal crises prior to exploratory laparotomy. Inhibition of the effects of endotoxin.

Ocular conditions: Control of painful ocular conditions e.g. injury, uveitis and keratitis and ocular swelling before and after certain surgical procedures such as cataract removal.

Respiratory conditions:
Reduction of shock-associated pulmonary hypertension.

Directions for use
Horses: 1.1mg/kg (1mL/45kg) bodyweight, i.v. or i.m. injection
once a day for up to 5 days.
Cattle: 2.2mg/kg (2mL/45kg) bodyweight i.v. once daily for
3 - 5 days.
Pigs: 2.2mg/kg (2mL/45kg) bodyweight intramuscularly. Repeat hourly if required for up to 3 doses.
Dogs: 1mg/kg (0.5mL/25kg) bodyweight by i.v. or i.m. injection once daily for up to 3 days.

Presentation
Injection 50mL, 100mL.

Composition
Flunixin 50mg/mL (as flunixin meglumine).

Contraindications
FLUNIXIL is contraindicated in cats.

Pharmacology
FLUNIXIL acts to inhibit the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase necessary for the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxanes from
arachidonic acid. These arachidonic acid metabolites invoke various aspects of the inflammatory process: vasodilation, increase vascular permeability, pain sensation, inflammatory cell attraction/activation, fever due to the raising of the hypothalamic set point and platelet aggregation. The inhibition achieved with Flunixin meglumine is virtually complete, making it one of the most potent NSAID’s.

Safety and precautions
All NSAID’s have the potential for toxic reactions which can usually be attributed to their blockage of prostaglandin synthesis. These include gastric and intestinal ulceration, nephrotoxicity and decreased platelet aggregation.

Gastrointestinal toxicity:
Gastro intestinal ulceration is the most common adverse effect of Flunixin meglumine. Prostaglandin blockage can lead to increased gastric acid secretion reduction of the secretion of protective mucus and bicarbonate. Signs of ulceration are inappetence, vomiting, diarrhoea and blood in the stools (this may be occult). Owners should be warned to watch for such signs. Concurrent use of steroids can exacerbate the potential for toxicity. Provided the correct dose is not exceeded, and the treatment period within the recommended time limits, toxicity is not normally a problem. Some individual animals however may show greater sensitivity. Cessation of treatment will reverse any gastrointestinal side effects.

Renal toxicity:
Prostaglandins are involved in a number of renal physiological processes, including autoregulation of renal blood flow, glomerular filtration, tubular ion transport, modulations of renin release, and water metabolism. Renal prostaglandin blockade by Flunixin meglumine is usually of little consequence in healthy animals. In the presence of certain disease states however, toxicity may occur e.g. congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and pre-existing renal insufficiency. Also concurrent administration of other drugs affecting renal function or blood flow may lead to renal toxicity e.g. anaesthesia. FLUNIXIL treatment should be stopped 1 - 2 days prior to induction of anaesthesia and fluids administered intravenously during anaesthesia to support renal blood flow. Care should be taken when treating older patients with possible impaired renal function.

Haematopoietic toxicity:
Prolongation of bleeding time as a result of inhibition of platelet aggregation of flunixin meglumine may be a problem in animals with bleeding tendencies e.g. von Willebrand’s disease, other coagulation disorders, or gastrointestinal ulceration.

Precautions
Foals should not be treated within their first 72 hours of life. Slight irritation may follow intramuscular injection in young animals or if it is injected too superficially into older animals. FLUNIXIL should not be mixed with other compounds. Extra arterial injection should be avoided. The effects of FLUNIXIL on pregnancy have not yet been determined.

Withholding period
Milk – Not to be used within 36 hours from treatment for human consumption or processing.
This milk should not be fed to bobby calves.
Horses: meat – 28 days.
Cattle/pigs: meat –
Do not use less than 28 days prior to slaughter for human consumption.

Storage
Store below 30ºC (room temperature). Protect from light.

Registration
All states

APVMA number
40439