Navicon (Canada)

Pentoxifylline Powder

Din 02181533

Veterinary Use Only

For use in horses only

Description

NAVICON is an oral formulation of Pentoxifylline, in a palatable base, presented in individual dose pouches. Each pouch contains 2.0 grams of Pentoxifylline. NAVICON is intended for use in horses only.

Navicon Indications

Horses

Navicon is indicated as an aid in easing lameness associated with uncomplicated navicular disease. Its efficacy has been demonstrated in mild to severe and acute to chronic cases of navicular disease.

Navicular disease has been recognized clinically for several hundred years. Traditionally it has been thought of as an inflammatory (bursitic) or degenerative condition. However a vascular etiology was proposed as early as 1885 by Wally, and also implicated by independent workers.¹ More recently Colles has demonstrated thrombosis of the distal navicular nutrient arteries and areas of ischemic bone necrosis as a significant finding in horses with navicular disease.² Therefore drugs which influence circulatory dynamics have been used widely for the treatment of navicular disease.³

Mechanism Of Action

NAVICON is classified as a hemorrheological drug because it improves blood supply at the microcirculatory level by permitting red blood cells to penetrate into occluded areas. This is achieved by increasing the red blood cell ATP content and increasing red blood cell membrane flexibility.

NAVICON also causes platelet deaggregration and therefore inhibits thrombosis. The result is increased tissue perfusion and oxygenation.^4-5

NAVICON offers a significant advantage over non-specific symptomatic treatment. NAVICON treatment is specific therapy aimed at improving perfusion in compromised tissues. By counteracting the pathogenic mechanism of tissue hypoxia in navicular disease, NAVICON may arrest the progression of the disease. This selective action is superior to the nonselective effect of systemic vasodilators which are generally regarded as contraindicated in chronic occlusive arterial disease in humans.^6-7

Navicon Dosage And Administration

For An Average Horse Weighing 454 Kg

1 pouch (2.0 g Pentoxifylline) of NAVICON should be given in the feed three times daily (a total of 6 g of Pentoxifylline per day) for a period of 6 weeks.

Once the pouch is opened it should be used immediately by adding the feed.

The contents of the pouch should be mixed thoroughly with the grain and fed as soon as possible.

Note

It is imperative that the full dose be consumed for the duration of the treatment.

Horses should be lightly exercised or rested if severely lame. Normal work and exercise can resume as the lameness resolves.

In many cases soundness and relief of other symptoms associated with navicular disease will last for periods of 6 months and longer.

Navicon Caution

In case of overdose, administer activated charcoal and symptomatic, supportive therapy as required.

Adverse side effects such as occasional and transient sweating was reported in one horse, and the dose of NAVICON was decreased, but NAVICON therapy was not discontinued. Behavioral change, conjunctival congestion, edema, itching and epiphora may be attributable to the treatment and may require dose reduction or even discontinuation of treatment.

No safety data for miniature horses, ponies or large draft breeds are available, therefore such animals should be treated very carefully if at all.

NAVICON should not be administered to pregnant or breeding animals as effects on reproduction in the horse have not been fully studied.

Warning

This drug is not to be administered to horses that are to be slaughtered for use in food.

Storage Conditions

Store between 15 and 25°C. Protect from humidity.

Presentation

Boxes of 42 pouches (individual doses), code 30074. Each 28.4 g pouch of NAVICON contains 2 grams of Pentoxifylline in palatable base q.s.

References

1. Colles, C.M.: Vet. Rec. 104: 133-137 (1979)

2. Colles, C.M., Hickman, J.: Eq. Vet J. 9 (3): 150-154 (1977)

3. Turner, T.A.: Mod. Vet. Prac. 67 (1): 24-27 (1986)

4. Ambrus, J.L., Ambrus, C.M., Taheri, S.A., Gastpar, H., Reddington, M.M., Taheri, P., Kahn, E.A., Schattman, G.L., Dean, L.S., Moore, R.H.: Angiology 35 (7): 418-426 (1984)

5. Aviado, D.M., Dettelbach, H.R.: Angiology 35 (7): 407-417 (1984)

6. Strandness, D.E.: JAM 2113 (1): 86-88 (1970)

7. COFFMAN, J.D.: NEW ENG. J. MED. 300 (13): 713-717 (1979)

STERIVET division of Vétoquinol N.-A. Inc., 2000, ch. Georges, Lavaltrie, QC, Canada J5T 3S5

658224F

Nac No.