Summary of Product Characteristics

1. NAME OF THE VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Beaphar WORMclear 230/20 mg Film-Coated Tablets for Cats

2. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Each film-coated tablet contains Pyrantel embonate 230 mg and Praziquantel 20 mg

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Film-coated tablets.

A white to off white round, biconvex coated tablet with a breakline on one side and plain on the other side.

The tablet can be divided in half.

4. CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Target species

Cats.

4.2 Indications for use, specifying the target species

For the treatment of mixed infections caused by the following gastrointestinal roundworms and tapeworms:

Roundworms:Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina,

Tapeworms:Dipylidium caninum, Taeniataeniaeformis, Echinococcus multilocularis.

4.3 Contraindications

Do not use simultaneously with piperazine compounds.

Do not use simultaneously with other deworming products without veterinary advice.

Do not use in kittens less than 6 weeks of age.

Do not use in animals with known hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients.

Do not use during pregnancy.

4.4 Special warnings for each target species

Fleas serve as intermediate hosts for one common type of tapeworm – Dipylidium caninum. Tapeworm infestation is certain to reoccur unless control of intermediate hosts such as fleas, mice, etc. is undertaken.

Development of parasite resistance to anthelmintics of a certain class can occur after frequent and repeated use of an anthelmintic from that class.

4.5 Special precautions for use

Special precautions for use in animals

Not intended for use in cats weighing less than 1 kg bodyweight.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals

In the interests of good hygiene, persons administering the tablets directly to the cat, or by adding them to the cat’s food, should wash their hands afterwards.

In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice and show the package leaflet or carton to the physician.

4.6 Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)

Mild and short-lived digestive tract disorders such as excessive salivation and/or vomiting and mild and short-lived disorders of the nervous system such as loss of balance may occur in very rare cases.

The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:

- very common (more than 1 in 10 animals displaying adverse reaction(s) during the course of one treatment)

- common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals)

- uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals )

- rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals)

- very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals, including isolated reports)

4.7 Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Do not use during pregnancy but may be used during lactation.

4.8 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Do not use simultaneously with piperazine compounds.

4.9 Amounts to be administered and administration route

To ensure administration of a correct dose, body weight should be determined as accurately as possible.

Dosage

The recommended dose is: 20 mg/kg pyrantel (57.5 mg/kg pyrantel embonate) and 5 mg/kg praziquantel. This is equivalent to 1 tablet per 4 kg bodyweight.

Body weight	tablets
1.0 - 2.0 kg	½
Greater than 2.0 up to 4.0 kg	1
Greater than 4.0 up to 6.0 kg	1 ½
Greater than 6.0 kg	2

Administration and duration of treatment

Single oral administration. The tablet should be given directly to the cat, but if necessary can be disguised in food.

In ascarid infestation, especially in kittens, complete elimination cannot be expected, so a risk of infection for humans can persist. Repeat treatments should, therefore, be carried out with a suitable roundworm product at 14 day intervals until 2-3 weeks after weaning.

If signs of disease persist or appear, consult a veterinary surgeon.

4.10 Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary

After doses higher than 5 times the recommended dose, signs of intolerance such as vomiting have been observed.

4.11 Withdrawal period(s)

Not applicable.

5. PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Anthelmintics, praziquantel combinations.

ATC vet code: QP52AA51

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

This product contains anthelmintics active against gastrointestinal roundworms and tapeworms. The product contains two active substances, as follows:

and

Pyrantel acts as a cholinergic agonist. Its mode of action is to stimulate nicotinic cholinergic receptors of the parasite, induce spastic paralysis and thereby allow expulsion from the gastro-intestinal (GI) system by peristalsis.

Praziquantel is very rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the parasite. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that praziquantel causes severe damage to the parasite integument, resulting in contraction and paralysis. There is an almost instantaneous tetanic contraction of the parasite musculature and a rapid vacuolization of the syncytial tegument. This rapid contraction has been explained by changes in divalent cation fluxes, especially calcium.

In this fixed combination, pyrantel is active against the following ascarids: Toxocara cati, and Toxascaris leonina. Praziquantel is effective against tapeworms in particular Dipylidium caninumand Taenia taeniaeformis.

Since it contains praziquantel, the product is effective against Echinococcus multilocularis.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic particulars

Praziquantel is rapidly absorbed, metabolised and distributed in the body. It is also believed to be excreted back into the intestinal lumen by the mucous membrane.

Following administration of the product to cats, peak plasma concentrations of praziquantel were achieved by approximately 2 hours.

Pyrantel is poorly absorbed so it is expected that a large proportion of the administered dose remains in the GIT where it exerts its therapeutic effect and it is excreted largely unchanged in the faeces.

Following administration of the product to cats, peak plasma concentrations of pyrantel were achieved by approximately 3 hours.

6. PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Core tablet:

Maize starch

Microcrystalline cellulose

Crospovidone

Magnesium stearate

Colloidal anhydrous silica

Film coat

Grilled meat flavour

Opadry Complete Film Coating System 03F28415 White consisting of HPMC 2910/Hypromellose (E464), Macrogol/PEG 4000 (E1521), Titanium Dioxide (E171).

6.2 Incompatibilities

Not Applicable

6.3 Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale:4 years

6.4 Special precautions for storage

This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions

Unused halved tablets should be discarded.

Do not remove tablets from strip packaging until required for use.

The product is presented in either:

Individual blisters made up of a PVC/PE/PCTFE white opaque copolymer and a 20µm heatseal lacquer/aluminium containing 2 Tablets.

or

Individual blisters made up of 45µm PVC/aluminium/orientated polyamide and a 20µm heatseal lacquer/aluminium containing 2 tablets.

The blisters are packed into cartons containing: 2 tablets

6.6 Special precautions for the disposal of unused veterinary medicinal products or waste materials

Any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived from such veterinary medicinal product should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

C&H Generics Ltd

c/o Michael McEvoy and Co

Seville House

New Dock Street

Galway

Ireland

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER

Vm 40162/4011

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

19 March 2015

10. DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

June 2016

Approved: 03 June 2016