Below is the product datasheet. This has been provided by the manufacturer and should always be provided with the medication. Introduction 
Company name: MSD Animal Health
Address: Walton Manor
Walton
Milton Keynes
MK7 7AJ
Telephone: 01908 685685 (Customer Support Centre)
Fax: 01908 685555
Email: vet-support.uk@merck.com
Website: www.msd-animal-health.co.uk
Presentation
Zitac Vet 100 mg tablets are oblong tablets, scored on both sides, containing cimetidine 100 mg per tablet.
Zitac Vet 200 mg tablets are oblong tablets, scored on both sides, containing cimetidine 200 mg per tablet.
Uses
Symptomatic treatment for the reduction of vomiting associated with chronic gastritis in dogs.
Dosage and administration
Dose and route of administration: 5 mg of cimetidine per kg of bodyweight administered three times daily by the oral route. Tablets may be split to facilitate dosing.The concomitant use of appropriate dietary measures is strongly recommended. In clinical trials the efficacy of cimetidine has only been studied concomitantly with a hypoallergenic diet.
Recommended treatment scheme: reduction of vomiting is achieved in about 2 weeks. Animals should however be treated for at least 2 weeks after the remission of clinical signs, so a minimum treatment duration of 28 days is recommended. If considered successful, medication can be stopped. A two-week medication-free period should be allowed to see if vomiting occurs again.
If the dog starts vomiting again after a medication-free period, treatment can be re-initiated, without risk for intolerance. Depending on the response, treatment can be adapted to the individual animal until the response is considered to be adequate and then continued at this level. Dietary measures should always be maintained.
Contra-indications, warnings, etc
Treatment of chronic gastritis with cimetidine is symptomatic only. It is recommended that dogs (especially older dogs) showing persistent vomiting should undergo appropriate investigations to diagnose the underlying cause before starting treatment.
In case of renal dysfunction, the dose may be adjusted as the clearance of cimetidine may be decreased. If the response to treatment is poor within 15 days, the diagnosis and treatment plan should be re-evaluated.
Transient and self-resolving slight swelling of mammary glands may be observed in female dogs. A reversible reduction of prostate weight was also observed in male rats and dogs, at doses greater than 9 times the therapeutic dose, with no impact on reproductive performances. No other undesirable effects were reported.
The use of the product during pregnancy and lactation in the target species has not been investigated.
Therefore, use of the veterinary medicinal product during pregnancy and lactation should be based on a risk/benefit assessment by the responsible veterinary surgeon.
Due to inhibition of cytochrome P-450 activity by cimetidine, the metabolism and elimination of some drugs can be reduced. Clinically relevant interactions may occur with compounds having a narrow therapeutic index, e.g. beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, phenytoin, theophylline, aminophylline, warfarin and lidocaine. Doses of such drugs may need to be reduced when administered concomitantly with cimetidine.
The increased gastric pH resulting from cimetidine administration may lead to reduced absorption of drugs requiring an acid medium for absorption. It is recommended that at least 2 hours should elapse between administration of cimetidine and aluminium or magnesium hydroxide, metoclopramide, digoxin or ketoconazole when possible.
Increased gastric pH may also exacerbate bacterial overgrowth and antigenic stimulation in hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria.
Withdrawal period
Not applicable.
For animal treatment only. Keep out of reach and sight of children.
Pharmaceutical precautions
Store the tablets in the original blister packaging for protection against light.
Dispose of any unused product and empty containers in accordance with guidance from your local waste regulation authority.
Legal category
POM-V
Packaging Quantities
The tablets are packed in push-through blisters (white opaque PVC/Aluminium foil) in a printed outer carton.
Authorised pack sizes:
| blisters containing 10 tablets each.
|
| blisters packed per 3 or 10 in an outer carton.
|
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Further information
A safety study in dogs demonstrated that, when administered orally at 75 mg/kg/day (five times the recommended daily dose) for a period of 91 days, the product was well tolerated.
Marketing authorisation number
Vm 06376/4056: Zitac Vet 100 mg tablets for dogs.
Vm 06376/4057: Zitac Vet 200 mg tablets for dogs.
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