Brand: IVOMEC ® Liquid Drench

Company: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM (MERIAL)


DELIVERY FORM: «drench» for oral administration.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S): ivermectin 0.8 g/L (equivalent to 0.08%). 

CHEMICAL CLASS of the active ingredient(s): macrocyclic lactone


INDICATIONS: SHEEP


PARASITES CONTROLLED* (spectrum of activity)

* Country-specific differences may apply: read the product label.

Sheep


RECOMMENDED DOSE*

* Country-specific differences may apply: read the product label.

  • Sheep: 3 mL product/26 lb bw = 2.5 ml product/10 kg bw (equivalent to 0.2 mg of ivermectin/kg)

SAFETY

  • LD50 (acute oral) in rats: 50 mg/kg (for the a.i., according to MSDS)
  • LD50 (acute dermal) in rats: >660 mg/kg (for the a.i., according to MSDS)

Suspected poisoning? Read the article on ivermectin safety in this site.

Withholding periods (=withdrawal times) in days for meat & milk (country-specific differences may apply: read the product label)

  • Meat (Sheep):
    • US: 11 days
    • Canada: 14 days
    • UK: 6 days
    • Australia & New Zealand: 10 days (ESI = 10 days)
  • Milk for human consumption:
    • Not approved in most countries (New Zealand: 35 days)

WARNING !!!: Never use on humans, dogs and cats

You may be interested in the following articles in this site dealing with the general safety of veterinary products:


RESISTANCE PREVENTION

Risk of resistance? YES, resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms to macrocyclic lactones (incl. ivermectin) in ruminants is a very serious and increasing problem worldwide, particularly in sheep and goats. The most affected worm species are: Haemonchus spp, Ostertagia spp /Teladorsagia spp, Trichostrongylus spp, Nematodirus spp, Chabertia ovina.

This means that if this product does not achieve the expected efficacy against the mentioned parasites, it can be due to resistance and not to incorrect use, which is usually the most frequent cause of product failure.

Alternative chemical classes/active ingredients to prevent resistance of gastrointestinal roundworms through product rotation:

These alternative products may not be available in all countries, or may not be available as drenches, or may not be effective against all the concerned parasites.

It is highly recommended to periodically check the resistance status of each property performing appropriate tests (e.g. fecal egg counts) under supervision of a veterinary doctor. Such tests are now routinely available for most producers in developed countries.

Learn more about resistance and how it develops.


MARKETING

Are the active ingredients of this product ORIGINAL* or GENERICS**?

  • GENERICS

*Meaning that they are still patent protected and generics are not yet available
**Meaning that they have lost patent protection and may be acquired from manufacturers of generic active ingredients other than the holder of the original patent.

COUNTRIES where this brand/product is marketed: Worldwide, in some countries under other trade names (e.g. ORAMEC). In Some countries (e.g. Australia) there are also formulations enriched with minerals such es Selenium, Cobalt, etc.
GENERIC BRANDS available? Yes, in most countries

Click here to learn more about GENERIC vs. ORIGINAL drugs.

For an overview on the most used drench brands for livestock click here.


COMMENTS

The 0.08% ivermectin drench for sheep was first introduced by MS&D AgVet (later MERIA) in the 1980s as a specific oral formulation for ovines. In most countries it is marketed under the brand IVOMEC LIQUID, in other countries under the brand ORAMEC. In some countries there are also formulations of IVOMEC LIQUID enriched with minerals (e.g. Selenium), which have no additional antiparasitic efficacy.

Ivermectin was the first macrocyclic lactone discovered and introduced in the 1980s by MS&D AgVet. It is the parasiticide for livestock and pets most widely used worldwide, with probably thousands of generic brands. Ivermectin is probably the best veterinary parasiticide ever developed, highly effective against roundworms as well as against numerous external parasites (ticksflies, lice, mites, etc.). However, this particular drench formulation for oral administration to sheep is not effective against most of these external parasites. As all macrocyclic lactonesivermectin used alone is ineffective against tapeworms and flukes, regardless of the delivery form.

There are also countless brands with mixtures of ivermectin with other active ingredients, both as drenches and as injectables. In some countries slow-release capsules for oral administration to sheep that ensure a long period of protection against re-infestation are also available.

In ruminants, reducing the amount of feed slows down the exit flow of the rumen and prolongs the time during which the active ingredient remains there and is absorbed. Consequently it is advisable to reduce the access of animals to feed (especially to fresh pasture, not to water) 24 hours before administration. For the same reason, it is better to keep the animals away from food for about 6 hours after drenching. However sick or weak animals should not be kept away from food and fasting animals should have access to water.

The different withholding periods in various countries illustrate the fact that unfortunately, national regulatory authorities often draw different conclusions from the same scientific evidence. This has been always so and there are no indications that things will improve in the near future.

Click here for general information on good practices for the prevention and control of gastrointestinal worms in livestock.


DISCLAIMER

This article IS NOT A PRODUCT LABEL. It offers complementary information that may be useful to veterinary professionals and users that are not familiar with veterinary antiparasitics. 

Information offered in this article has been extracted from publications issued by manufacturers, government agencies (e.g. EMEA, FDA, USDA, etc.) or in the scientific literature. No guarantee is given on its accuracy, integrity, sufficiency, actuality and opportunity, and any liability is denied. Read the site's DISCLAIMER.

In case of doubt contact the manufacturer or a veterinary professional.