Vets’ Advice: Thyronorm NOAH and SPC Product Information
Thyronorm oral solution for cats contains the active drug thiamazole (also known as methimazole). It is authorised in the UK for the stabilisation of hyperthyroidism in cats before surgical thyroidectomy and for the long term treatment of feline hyperthyroidism.
Vet’s Advice: Thyronorm NOAH and SPC Product InformationFinding Thyronorm product information
Every veterinary medicine authorised for marketing in the UK has a Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). The SPC is a legal document that summarises the information about the medicine gathered during the medicine licensing process. The wording of the SPC is drafted by the pharmaceutical company and approved by the regulator, in the UK the regulator is the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The content of the SPC is a guide to using the medicine safely and effectively for the licensed uses. It states the dosage and may include information about monitoring during treatment. It also includes information about the known side effects of the medicine, together with important advice on preventing side effects, such as dose adjustment or even avoiding use of the drug in certain patients. The SPC also contains information on safe handling and correct storage. There is a standard layout for the SPC.
Vet’s Advice: Thyronorm NOAH and SPC Product InformationWhere to find the SPC for veterinary medicines including Thyronorm
The SPC of every veterinary medicine authorised in the UK can be found in the VMD’s Product Information Database. When you search the database for Thyronorm you will be able to access not only the SPC, but also the package leaflet for the product, the Public Assessment Report (a summary of the VMD’s licensing decision) and a summary of the changes made to the licence since first authorisation. It is important to be aware that the SPC for every authorised veterinary medicine is included in the VMD database, so you can be sure of finding it here.
Vet’s Advice: Thyronorm NOAH and SPC Product InformationThe Online Compendium - Thyronorm NOAH product information
The NOAH Online Compendium is an information resource on authorised veterinary medicines provided by the organisation NOAH. NOAH stands for National Office of Animal Health. Although this sounds like it might be a government agency or animal welfare organisation, it is the name of the membership organisation that represents the British veterinary pharmaceutical industry. The NOAH Online Compendium is provided by NOAH as a service to the veterinary profession to help make it easy to find prescribing information on authorised veterinary medicines.
Companies voluntarily add information on their medicines to the Compendium. Unlike the VMD’s Product Information Database, the NOAH Compendium may not contain information on every authorised veterinary medicine. Information in the NOAH Compendium is presented as a ‘datasheet’. Essentially the information is identical to that in the SPC (companies would not be permitted to present information that has not been approved by the regulator). The difference from the SPC is that the information may be presented in a different order and some information (e.g. on pharmacokinetics) might be omitted.
Vet’s Advice: Thyronorm NOAH and SPC Product InformationThyronorm VMD information vs Thyronorm NOAH information
The VMD database contains the full SPC for Thyronorm in its standard format.
The VMD database also includes the package leaflet and labelling information and the Public Assessment Report.
The SPC is in pdf format so you need to scroll to get to the information you want to read.
The NOAH information on Thyronorm can be viewed by section using the menu side bar. This can make it easier and quicker to find the information you want to see, although you might still need to scroll down (e.g. to find the dose under the heading ‘Clinical Particulars’)
As well as being able to search for information online, the NOAH Compendium is also available as an app.
Whichever source you use for Thyronorm NOAH or VMD, you will find the authorised prescribing information.
Vet’s Advice: Thyronorm NOAH and SPC Product InformationHow Veterinary Prescriber can help
Veterinary Prescriber provides evidence-based, practical and clearly-written information to help vets make treatment choices, saving them the time and effort it takes to rigorously assess and compare the evidence and information on medical treatments. We are proud to be wholly independent, which means that the information we provide is impartial and not influenced by commercial interests.
As you can see from this example of Thyronorm NOAH and SPC division, information on veterinary medicines can be found in several places. It is important to understand the pros and cons of the different sources. Veterinary Prescriber aims to help veterinary professionals use information in the best interests of animals by making sense of veterinary medicines information. Vets sometimes need to prescribe an unauthorised medicine for a particular animal (e.g. a human medicine or a bespoke formulation) via a risk-based decision framework known as the ‘cascade’. However, information on such uses of medicines may be more difficult to find. Veterinary Prescriber also helps vets by providing evidence-based and practical information on all medicines.
Our reviews are presented as multimedia modules (that you can read and/or listen to) in The Virtual Veterinary Medicines Academy. We also offer unique product guides, medicines resources and Medicines Certificates. Access is through subscription (this is how we are able to produce information that is completely objective). For further details on The Academy itself, or to sign up today, click here. For more information on Veterinary Prescriber, including how we research and produce our content, or to meet the Veterinary Prescriber team, please see our about us page.