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Gazette Letters VETERINARY MEDICINES
Use of Pexion tablets for dogs THE pharmacovigilance unit at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for monitoring adverse event reports for veterinary medicines throughout the UK. Adverse event reports are received from veterinary surgeons, animal owners and directly from Marketing Authorisation Holders (MAHs). Over the past year, the VMD has received a number of reports for Pexion (imepitoin), a product which was first authorised in February 2013. These reports include both suspected adverse reactions, often involving clinical signs similar to those already listed in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC), and reports of suspected lack of expected efficacy. Following consultation with the MAH, Boehringer Ingelheim, it has been noted that many of the reports describing suspected lack of efficacy involve use other than in strict accordance with the SPC. The VMD would like to remind veterinary surgeons to refer to the SPC, in particular to the indications for use of the product. Pexion is authorised ‘for the reduction of the frequency of generalised seizures due to idiopathic epilepsy in dogs for use after careful evaluation of alternative treatment options’. Therefore, it is not authorised for the treatment of seizures due to other causes and Pexion should only be used after consideration is given to other treatments available for the control of seizures due to idiopathic epilepsy. This means that, in line with the MAH’s recommendations, veterinary surgeons should not transition dogs onto Pexion from other treatments in those situations where the dog is stable on its current treatment regime and is not suffering from any adverse effects. Section 4.4 of the SPC should also be noted: ‘The efficacy of the product in dogs with status epilepticus and cluster seizures, has not been investigated’. Therefore, Pexion should not be used as the primary treatment in these dogs. Transition to other types of antiepileptic therapy should be done gradually and with appropriate clinical supervision. A copy of the SPC for Pexion can be obtained from the European Medicines Agency website via the following link: www.ema.europa.eu/ docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_ Product_Information/veterinary/002543/ WC500140840.pdf. All suspected adverse events should be reported to the MAH or the VMD. An interactive reporting form can be completed 232 | Veterinary Record | September 6, 2014
and submitted online via the VMD website at the following link: www.vmd.defra.gov. uk/adversereactionreporting. Giles Davis, Gillian Diesel, VMD, Pharmacovigilance Unit, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3LS e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g5422
VETERINARY PROFESSION
Survey of profession’s information needs THE RCVS Knowledge library is trying to find out how it can provide the best support for the information needs of veterinary surgeons and nurses. Everyone knows that it can be extremely challenging to take full account of the ever-increasing pool of information. To ensure that the library is providing relevant information to those who need it, when they need it, the library has commissioned the Research Information Network to undertake a study
of how veterinary professionals find and gain access to the information they need. As part of the study, we are asking veterinary surgeons and nurses to complete an online survey. The aim is to develop as full a picture as possible of how the needs of the profession can be better met – how well the library’s current services are working and where they could be improved, taking full account of the services provided by others. More information is available at http://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/library-andinformation-services. The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ JGFCKKB Michael Jubb, Research Information Network, Woburn House, 22-24 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HF e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g5418
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 24, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Survey of profession's information needs Michael Jubb Veterinary Record 2014 175: 232
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5418 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/9/232.1
These include:
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Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
Gazette Letters VETERINARY MEDICINES
Use of Pexion tablets for dogs THE pharmacovigilance unit at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is responsible for monitoring adverse event reports for veterinary medicines throughout the UK. Adverse event reports are received from veterinary surgeons, animal owners and directly from Marketing Authorisation Holders (MAHs). Over the past year, the VMD has received a number of reports for Pexion (imepitoin), a product which was first authorised in February 2013. These reports include both suspected adverse reactions, often involving clinical signs similar to those already listed in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC), and reports of suspected lack of expected efficacy. Following consultation with the MAH, Boehringer Ingelheim, it has been noted that many of the reports describing suspected lack of efficacy involve use other than in strict accordance with the SPC. The VMD would like to remind veterinary surgeons to refer to the SPC, in particular to the indications for use of the product. Pexion is authorised ‘for the reduction of the frequency of generalised seizures due to idiopathic epilepsy in dogs for use after careful evaluation of alternative treatment options’. Therefore, it is not authorised for the treatment of seizures due to other causes and Pexion should only be used after consideration is given to other treatments available for the control of seizures due to idiopathic epilepsy. This means that, in line with the MAH’s recommendations, veterinary surgeons should not transition dogs onto Pexion from other treatments in those situations where the dog is stable on its current treatment regime and is not suffering from any adverse effects. Section 4.4 of the SPC should also be noted: ‘The efficacy of the product in dogs with status epilepticus and cluster seizures, has not been investigated’. Therefore, Pexion should not be used as the primary treatment in these dogs. Transition to other types of antiepileptic therapy should be done gradually and with appropriate clinical supervision. A copy of the SPC for Pexion can be obtained from the European Medicines Agency website via the following link: www.ema.europa.eu/ docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_ Product_Information/veterinary/002543/ WC500140840.pdf. All suspected adverse events should be reported to the MAH or the VMD. An interactive reporting form can be completed 232 | Veterinary Record | September 6, 2014
and submitted online via the VMD website at the following link: www.vmd.defra.gov. uk/adversereactionreporting. Giles Davis, Gillian Diesel, VMD, Pharmacovigilance Unit, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3LS e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g5422
VETERINARY PROFESSION
Survey of profession’s information needs THE RCVS Knowledge library is trying to find out how it can provide the best support for the information needs of veterinary surgeons and nurses. Everyone knows that it can be extremely challenging to take full account of the ever-increasing pool of information. To ensure that the library is providing relevant information to those who need it, when they need it, the library has commissioned the Research Information Network to undertake a study
of how veterinary professionals find and gain access to the information they need. As part of the study, we are asking veterinary surgeons and nurses to complete an online survey. The aim is to develop as full a picture as possible of how the needs of the profession can be better met – how well the library’s current services are working and where they could be improved, taking full account of the services provided by others. More information is available at http://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/library-andinformation-services. The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ JGFCKKB Michael Jubb, Research Information Network, Woburn House, 22-24 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HF e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.g5418
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 24, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Survey of profession's information needs Michael Jubb Veterinary Record 2014 175: 232
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5418 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/9/232.1
These include:
Email alerting service
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
