This is why our vet said he can't get Sentinel which we have always used. Now he gave us Iverhart which I have never heard of. Between Flea/Tick and Heartworm meds I am freaking out. It is so hard to try to figure out what is safest aside from natural measures, for our pets! Sue
On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 2:37 AM, Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]>wrote: > ** > > > > Novartis temporarily suspends production of Interceptor, Sentinel > *December 29, 2011 > By: Jennifer Fiala > For The VIN News Service > * > http://news.vin.com/vinnews.aspx?articleId=20998 > ** > Novartis Animal Health has ceased production of Interceptor, Sentinel and > several other drugs manufactured in its plant in Lincoln, Neb., while the > facility undergoes "process and compliance improvement activities," a > spokesman for the company confirmed today. > > Mickey McDermott, head of communications for Novartis Animal Health in > North America, could not immediately identify what other products are being > impacted by the plant's temporary shutdown aside from Interceptor and > Sentinel, both pet parasitides. He did not specify the type of > modifications underway or whether they were prompted by the U.S. Food and > Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates facilities that manufacture and > process livestock feeds, pet foods and veterinary drugs and devices. > > Officials with the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine did not respond > today to a query about whether the agency is involved in Novartis's process > and compliance upgrades. > > McDermott noted that the changes are being made "voluntarily." The company > hopes to resume its regular production schedule sometime in January. > > "We're hoping this will be very temporary," he said. > > So is Dr. Steven Hornstein. As a solo practitioner in Monroe Township, > N.J., he dispenses 40 or 50 boxes of Interceptor, a broad-spectrum > antiparasitic that contains milbemycin oxime, on a monthly basis. > > "It's the main heartworm preventative I use, so this will impact me," > Hornstein said. He plans on turning to Elanco's flea killer and heartworm > preventative Trifexis, which contains spinosad and milbemycin oxime. > > Trifexis <http://www.trifexis.com/> is not a direct substitute for > Interceptor <http://www.interceptor.novartis.us/> or > Sentinel<http://www.sentinelpet.com/#%21/about-sentinel>, > which contains milbemycin oxime and lufenuron. According to the > label<http://www.trifexis.com/about-trifexis/faqs.aspx>for Trifexis, serious > adverse reactions have been reported following > concomitant extra-label use of ivermectin, another broad-spectrum > antiparasiticide, with spinosad alone, one of the components of Trifexis > chewable tablets. > > All three antiparasitics act as heartworm preventatives and have similar > label claims when it comes to treating common intestinal parasites such as > hookworms, roundworms and whipworms. Interceptor, administered via flavored > tablets, is not designed to target flea and tick populations. Sentinel, > also a flavored tablet, inhibits flea egg development but does not kill > adult fleas or ticks. Trifexis targets adult fleas but is not marketed for > tick prevention or protection. > > Hornstein noted that he's received no communication from Novartis with > news of the supply disruption. He found out from a colleague who alerted > others via a > post<http://www.vin.com/members/boards/DiscussionViewer.aspx?DocumentId=5238930&SAId=1%20>on > the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), an online community for the > profession, after her practice manager attempted to place an order for > Interceptor. > > Members of VIN have attempted to reach out to Novartis officials in search > of clear answers about the supply issues. Thus far, their queries have gone > unanswered. > > The most recent news releases featured on the Novartis U.S. website date > back to 2009. It's unclear whether Novartis sent a "Dear Doctor" letter — a > form of communication that pharmaceutical companies often use to alert > medical professionals to changes concerning their products — to > veterinarians. > > "Would it be nice for the company to warn us? Absolutely," Hornstein said. > "I'd like to get this information first, from them." > > *Editors Note: This article was amended from its original to include > additional information about the antiparasitics featured. * > ** > ** > > > > > >
