Fortekor Flavour Tablets For Dogs & Cats

The active ingredient in FORTEKOR is benazepril hydrochloride which is a second generation non-sulphydryl angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Following oral administration, benazepril hydrochloride is absorbed and converted by the liver to its active metabolite, benazeprilat. Benazeprilat acts by inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). This enzyme is part of the renin-angiotensin cascade system and converts inactive Angiotensin I into biologically-active Angiotensin II, the hormone controlling vasoconstriction and release of aldosterone. Thus, ACE inhibitors prevent constriction of the blood vessels, thereby facilitating blood flow and reducing hypertension.

Indications:

FORTEKOR is indicated for:

(1) The treatment of heart failure in dogs caused by mitral regurgitation or dilated cardiomyopathy, in combination with standard therapy.

(2) As an aid in the management of chronic renal insufficiency associated with proteinuria in cats.

Dosage and Administration:

Heart Failure in Dogs:

The minimum recommended dose is 0.25 mg/kg body weight, to be given once daily orally according to the following regime:

FORTEKOR can be given with or without food. The duration of treatment is unlimited. The dose can be doubled, still administered once daily, if judged clinically necessary and advised by the veterinarian.

FORTEKOR may be given in combination with digoxin, diuretics and antiarrhythmic drugs as necessary.

Chronic Renal Insufficiency in Cats:

The recommended dose is 0.5 mg benazepril hydrochloride / kg body weight, to be given orally once daily according to the following regime.

FORTEKOR can be given with or without food. The duration of treatment is unlimited.

Cautions:

Dogs:

No evidence of renal toxicity to FORTEKOR has been observed in dogs during clinical trials. Because of the biliary excretion of benazeprilat, there is little risk of bioaccumulation in dogs with impaired renal function. For this reason, no dose adjustment of FORTEKOR is necessary in cases of renal insufficiency. However, as is routine, in cases of renal insufficiency, it is recommended to monitor plasma urea and creatinine levels.

Signs of hypotension such as lethargy or ataxia may appear in rare cases. Reduce the dose of the diuretic, if necessary.

The safety of FORTEKOR has not been tested in breeding dogs. FORTEKOR is therefore not recommended for use in pregnant bitches unless justified by the risk/benefit ratio. No data are available in lactating bitches. FORTEKOR should therefore be used only if justified clinically.

Cats:

FORTEKOR may increase plasma creatinine concentrations at the start of therapy. This effect is related to the therapeutic effect of the product in reducing blood pressure, and therefore is not necessarily a reason to stop therapy in the absence of other signs. As is routine in cases of chronic renal insufficiency, it is recommended to monitor plasma creatinine during therapy.

Although not demonstrated in cats, benazepril may cause hyperkalemia in some human patients with chronic renal failure. Periodic monitoring of serum potassium levels during therapy is therefore recommended.

FORTEKOR reduced erythrocyte counts in normal cats at high doses, but this effect was not observed at the recommended dose during clinical trials in cats with chronic renal insufficiency. As is routine in cases of chronic renal insufficiency it is recommended to monitor erythrocyte counts during therapy.

The safety of FORTEKOR has not been evaluated in cats with acute renal failure, acute exacerbation of chronic renal failure, hypovolemia, dehydration, or concurrent cardiac or hepatic disease. During the clinical trial, benazepril was administered to cats with elevated ALT levels, without specific adverse events being observed.

The safety of FORTEKOR has not been tested in breeding cats, or pregnant or lactating queens. FORTEKOR should therefore be used only if justified clinically, considering the risk/benefit ratio. ACE inhibitors can cause injury or even death of the developing fetus when used in pregnancy during the second and third trimesters in some species.

There are no known interactions between FORTEKOR and other medicaments in cats. The combination of ACE inhibitors and other antihypertensive agents (e.g. calcium channel blockers, β-blockers or diuretics) may lead to additive hypotensive effects. In man, the combination of ACE inhibitors and NSAIDs can lead to reduced efficacy of the ACE inhibitor or impaired renal function.

Warnings:

Keep out of reach of children.