ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE: Product Information

ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE- alfaxalone injection, solution
Zoetis Inc.

For Animal Use Only
Alfaxan® Multidose CIV
(alfaxalone) 10 mg/mL
Intravenous injectable anesthetic for use in cats and dogs.

CAUTION

Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

DESCRIPTION

ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE (alfaxalone) is a neuroactive steroid molecule with properties of a general anesthetic. Alfaxalone is chemically described as 3-α-hydroxy-5-α-pregnane-11, 20-dione, and has a molecular weight 332.5. The primary mechanism for the anesthetic action of alfaxalone is modulation of neuronal cell membrane chloride ion transport, induced by binding of alfaxalone to GABAA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) cell surface receptors.

INDICATIONS

ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE is indicated for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia and for induction of anesthesia followed by maintenance with an inhalant anesthetic, in cats and dogs.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Administer by intravenous injection only. For induction, administer ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE over approximately 60 seconds or until clinical signs show the onset of anesthesia, titrating administration against the response of the patient. Rapid administration of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE may be associated with an increased incidence of cardiorespiratory depression or apnea. Apnea can occur following induction or after the administration of maintenance boluses of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE. The use of preanesthetics may reduce the ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE induction dose. The choice and the amount of phenothiazine, alpha2 -adrenoreceptor agonist, benzodiazepine or opioid will influence the response of the patient to an induction dose of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE.

When using ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE, patients should be continuously monitored, and facilities for the maintenance of a patent airway, artificial ventilation, and oxygen supplementation must be immediately available.

ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE contains preservatives. Use within 56 days of first puncture. Any unused ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE remaining after 56 days should be discarded.

ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE should not be mixed with other therapeutic agents prior to administration.

CATS

Induction of general anesthesia in cats: Induction dose guidelines are based on data from the field study (see EFFECTIVENESS) and range between 2.2 — 9.7 mg/kg for cats that did not receive a preanesthetic, and between 1.0 — 10.8 mg/kg for cats that received a preanesthetic. The alfaxalone induction dose in the field study was reduced by 10 — 43%, depending on the combination of preanesthetics (dose sparing effect). Dose sparing of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE will depend on the potency, dose, and time of administration of the various preanesthetics that are used prior to induction. To avoid anesthetic overdose, titrate the administration of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE against the response of the patient.

Anesthesia is usually observed within 60 seconds after the start of injection, and permits intubation within 1 — 2 minutes, irrespective of preanesthetic. The duration of anesthesia from a single induction dose ranges between 15 — 30 minutes in the unpreanesthetized cat. If a preanesthetic is used, anesthetic duration may be longer, depending on the class and dose of preanesthetic. Individual anesthesia times vary.

Examples from the field study of average induction doses (and ranges) for cats that received various preanesthetics are presented as dosing guidelines in the table. The table is for guidance only. Draw up the maximum expected target dose and administer to effect. The actual induction dose should be based on patient response.

Alfaxalone Induction Dose Guidelines: CATS
Preanesthetic Average alfaxalone induction dose (and range) in mg/kg Number of cats
No preanesthetic 4.0 (2.2-9.7) 33
Opioid + phenothiazine 3.2 (1.1-10.8) 96
Benzodiazepine + phenothiazine 3.6 (1.5-7.1) 23
Benzodiazepine + opioid + phenothiazine 2.3 (1.2-5.0) 26
Alpha2 -adrenergic agonist with/without phenothiazine 3.6 (1.1-5.0) 15
Alpha2 -adrenergic agonist + phenothiazine with/without benzodiazepine or opioid 2.9 (1.0-3.9) 11

Additional doses of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE similar to those used for maintenance (1.1 — 1.5 mg/kg) may be administered to facilitate intubation.

Maintenance of general anesthesia in cats: Following induction of anesthesia with ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE and intubation, anesthesia may be maintained using intermittent ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE intravenous boluses or an inhalant anesthetic agent. A maintenance bolus containing 1.1 — 1.3 mg/kg provides an additional 7 — 8 minutes of anesthesia in preanesthetized cats. A dose of 1.4 — 1.5 mg/kg provides an additional 3 — 5 minutes anesthesia in unpreanesthetized cats. Clinical response may vary, and is determined by the dose, rate of administration, and frequency of maintenance injections.

ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE maintenance dose sparing is greater in cats that receive a preanesthetic. Examples from the field study of maintenance doses for preanesthetized and unpreanesthetized cats are presented as guidelines in the table. Maintenance dose and frequency should be based on the response of the individual patient.

Alfaxalone Maintenance Dose Guidelines: CATS
Dose and Duration Preanesthetized Cats Unpreanesthetized Cats
Maintenance anesthesia doses 1.1 — 1.3 mg/kg 1.4 — 1.5 mg/kg
Mean duration of anesthesia 7-8 minutes 3 — 5 minutes

In the field study, recovery times (extubation to head lift) following alfaxalone maintenance anesthesia averaged 15 minutes in cats that did not receive a preanesthetic, and 17 minutes in preanesthetized cats.

Inhalant anesthetic maintenance of general anesthesia in cats: Additional low doses of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE, similar to a maintenance dose, may be required to facilitate the transition to inhalant maintenance anesthesia.

DOGS

Induction of general anesthesia in dogs: Induction dose guidelines are based on data from the field study (see EFFECTIVENESS) and range between 1.5 — 4.5 mg/kg for dogs that did not receive a preanesthetic, and between 0.2 — 3.5 mg/kg for dogs that received a preanesthetic. The alfaxalone induction dose in the field study was reduced by 23 — 50% depending on the combination of preanesthetics (dose sparing effect). Dose sparing of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE will depend on the potency, dose, and time of administration of the various preanesthetics that are used prior to induction. To avoid anesthetic overdose, titrate the administration of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE against the response of the patient. In the field study, the use of a preanesthetic appeared to decrease the occurrence of apnea following alfaxalone induction in dogs.

In dogs, ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE usually produces recumbence within 60 seconds after the start of injection, and permits intubation within 1 — 2 minutes, irrespective of preanesthetic. The duration of anesthesia from a single induction dose is approximately 5 — 10 minutes in the unpreanesthetized dog. If a preanesthetic is used, anesthetic duration may be longer, depending on the class and dose of preanesthetic. Individual anesthesia times vary.

Examples from the field study of average induction doses (and ranges) for dogs that received various preanesthetics are presented as dosing guidelines in the table. The table is for guidance only. Draw up the maximum expected target dose and administer to effect. The actual induction dose should be based on patient response.

Alfaxalone Induction Dose Guidelines: DOGS
Preanesthetic Average alfaxalone induction dose (and range) in mg/kg Number of dogs
No preanesthetic 2.2 (1.5 — 4.5) 17
Benzodiazepine + opioid + acepromazine 1.7 (0.9 — 3.5) 39
Opioid + acepromazine 1.6 (0.6 — 3.5) 80
Alpha2 -agonist 1.1 (0.21 — 2.00) 9

Additional doses of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE similar to those used for maintenance (1.2 — 2.2 mg/kg) may be administered to facilitate intubation.

Maintenance of general anesthesia in dogs: Following induction of anesthesia with ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE and intubation, anesthesia may be maintained using intermittent ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE intravenous boluses or an inhalant anesthetic agent. A maintenance bolus containing 1.2 — 1.4 mg/kg provides an additional 6 — 8 minutes anesthesia in preanesthetized dogs. A dose of 1.5 — 2.2 mg/kg provides an additional 6 — 8 minutes of anesthesia in unpreanesthetized dogs. Clinical response may vary, and is determined by the dose, rate of administration, and frequency of maintenance injections.

ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE maintenance dose sparing is greater in dogs that receive a preanesthetic. Examples from the field study of maintenance doses for preanesthetized and unpreanesthetized dogs are presented as guidelines in the table. Maintenance dose and frequency should be based on the response of the individual patient.

Alfaxalone Maintenance Dose Guidelines: DOGS
Dose and Duration Preanesthetized Dogs Unpreanesthetized Dogs
Maintenance anesthesia doses 1.2 — 1.4 mg/kg 1.5 — 2.2 mg/kg
Mean duration of anesthesia 6 — 8 minutes 6 — 8 minutes

In the field study, recovery times (extubation to head lift) following alfaxalone maintenance anesthesia averaged 22 minutes in dogs that did not receive a preanesthetic, and 15 minutes in preanesthetized dogs.

Inhalant anesthetic maintenance of general anesthesia in dogs: Additional low doses of ALFAXAN MULTIDOSE, similar to a maintenance dose, may be required to facilitate the transition to inhalant maintenance anesthesia.

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

VetLabel.com provides trustworthy package insert and label information about marketed drugs as submitted by manufacturers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Package information is not reviewed or updated separately by VetLabel.com. Every individual animal healthcare product label entry contains a unique identifier which can be used to secure further details directly from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and/or the FDA.

Our database mirrors the FDA's central repository of drug labels and package inserts under the Structured Product Labeling standard. VetLabel.com provides the full animal health subset of the FDA's repository. Veterinary information provided here is not intended as a substitute for direct consultation with a qualified veterinary professional.

Terms of Use | Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.