FDA approves new emetic for dogs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has approved Clevor (ropinirole ophthalmic solution) for inducing vomiting in dogs. Clevor is a dopamine agonist that is administered by drops in the dog’s eye.
Some examples of when a veterinarian may want to induce vomiting in dogs include when the dog has eaten something that may be poisonous or that can’t pass through the intestinal tract, and that can be safely vomited as determined by a veterinarian. Clevor is available by prescription only, as the drug should only be administered by veterinary personnel because professional expertise is required to ensure safe use of the drug, assess the animal patient for contraindications associated with the induction of vomiting, and monitor any possible adverse reactions.
The effectiveness of Clevor was demonstrated in a clinical field study in which it was administered to 100 client-owned dogs to induce vomiting of the last meal the dogs ate (no harmful objects or toxins were given to the dogs). The study demonstrated that Clevor is effective for the induction of vomiting in dogs, as 95 percent of dogs treated with Clevor vomited within 30 minutes. Eighty-six percent of dogs in the Clevor group vomited after the first dose, and 14 percent needed a second dose 20 minutes after the first dose was administered.
The safety of Clevor was demonstrated in one laboratory study in which 24 dogs were dosed with Clevor twice daily for three days. The study supported the safe use of Clevor for the induction of vomiting when administered topically into the eye.
The drug-related effects observed in dogs that were administered Clevor were consistent with the adverse reactions most commonly seen with drugs in the dopamine agonist class. These included vomiting, tremors, lethargy, increased heart rates, and decreased blood pressure. These drug-related effects resolved within six hours after dosing. Other drug-related effects observed in the studies were related to applying the drug to the eye and included eye redness; involuntary blinking or spasms of the eye lid (blepharospasm); eye discharge (conjunctival discharge); eye swelling; visible third eyelid; drooping or falling of the upper eyelid (ptosis); and corneal ulceration (an open sore in the outermost layer of the eye).
Clevor is available in a 0.3 mL, prefilled single dose dropper and is supplied in one or five droppers per carton.
Veterinarians and animal owners should be aware that human exposure to this drug may cause adverse reactions such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, decrease in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension), and sleepiness, and they should seek medical attention if accidental exposure occurs.
