Immiticide
Generic name: melarsomine dihydrochloride injection
Dosage form: FOR ANIMAL USE ONLY
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CAUTION
Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
Immiticide® should be administered by deep intramuscular injection in the lumbar (epaxial) muscles (L3 - L5) ONLY.
DO NOT USE IN ANY OTHER MUSCLE GROUP. DO NOT USE INTRAVENOUSLY.
Care should be taken to avoid superficial injection or leakage. (See SAFETY)
ACTIVE INGREDIENT
Immiticide Sterile Powder contains 50.0 mg melarsomine dihydrochloride and 33.75 mg glycine USP.
1 vial: when reconstituted with 2 mL of sterile water for injection (provided) contains 25 mg/mL of active ingredient.
PHARMACOLOGY
Melarsomine dihydrochloride is an organic arsenical chemotherapeutic agent. Melarsomine has a molecular weight of 501.34 and is chemically designated as 4 - [(4, 6-diamino-1, 3, 5- triazon-2-yl) amino] phenyl-dithioarsenite of di (2-aminoethyl), dihydrochloride. It is freely soluble in water. When injected intramuscularly, it is rapidly absorbed. The exact mode of action on D. immitis is unknown.
INDICATIONS
Immiticide Sterile Powder is indicated for the treatment of stabilized Class 11, 22, and 33 heartworm disease caused by immature (4 month-old, stage L5) to mature adult infections of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs.
Heartworm Disease Classification
The following parameters were used to classify the dogs in the clinical field trials for Immiticide. Other parameters may be considered. As a general rule, conservative treatment should be employed since heartworm disease is serious and potentially fatal. If there is evidence of a high worm burden, patients should be categorized as Class 3.
- 1
- Class 1: Patients in this category are characterized as having asymptomatic to mild heartworm disease. No radiographic signs or signs of anemia are evident. Patients with mild disease may have subjective signs such as a general loss of condition, fatigue on exercise, or occasional cough; h...
