FDA Announces New Directions for Disposal of Eqvalan® (ivermectin) Liquid

The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is alerting veterinarians of revised directions for Eqvalan® (ivermectin) Liquid for Horses.  CVM has received a small number of reports of precipitate forming in opened or leaky bottles.  As a result of these reports, the directions for use will now instruct that the contents of the bottles be used within four (4) hours of opening and any unused product, or unused diluted product be discarded. 

Merial Limited, the manufacturer of Eqvalan, is also adding the following instructions regarding the proper disposal:

Disposal:  DO NOT FLUSH or pour unused medication in toilet, sink, or drain.  Mix unused medication with cat litter, sawdust (or other material that absorbs the medication), then place in a sealed container (e.g., plastic bag) BEFORE tossing in trash for disposal in a landfill or by incineration. 

Veterinarians should examine the product for precipitate before use.  If a precipitate is found, veterinarians should contact Merial Customer Care at 1-888-637-4251.

Products generic to Eqvalan should also be examined for precipitate before use. If a precipitate is found in a generic product, the manufacturer of that product should be contacted.

For additional information, please see: http://us.merial.com/pdf/FinalLetterEQVALANLetter-Final.pdf

Source: USDA FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine Press Release

If the product is that toxic, why are we giving it to our beloved horses? There must be a better way to do this. I've heard of fecal testing and treating on "an as needed basis". Anyone out there doing that? Let me know, OK?