POM-V Prescription Required

Mepivacaine Richter 20 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Horses

Active ingredient: Mepivacaine Hydrochloride

Form

Injection

Species

Horses

Manufacturer

VetViva Richter GmbH

VMD MA No.

57446/4009

What it's used for

Mepivacaine is indicated for infiltration, nerve block, intra-articular and epidural anaesthesia in horses.

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

The prescription itself has a price. See what practices near you charge for a consultation and the written prescription fee.

Paying less for Mepivacaine Hydrochloride

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

Your prescription rights → VMD register of retailers →

Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Mepivacaine Richter 20 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Horses — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

Mepivacaine is indicated for infiltration, nerve block, intra-articular and epidural
anaesthesia in horses.

Epidural use.
Full aseptic precautions should be observed when injecting the veterinary medicinal
product.
For intra-articular anaesthesia: 60 – 600 mg of mepivacaine hydrochloride (3 to 30
ml of the medicinal product), dependent on joint size
For epidural use: 0.2 – 0.25 mg/kg (1.0 to 1.25 ml/100 kg), up to10
ml/horse, depending on the depth and extent of
anaesthesia required.
In all instances the dosage should be kept to the minimum required to produce the
desired effect. The duration of action is about 1 hour. It is recommended that the skin
should be shaved and thoroughly disinfected prior to the intra-articular or epidural
administration.
This veterinary medicinal product does not contain an antimicrobial preservative. Use
the vial on one occasion only. Discard any unused material.

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to local anaesthetics belonging to the amide
group, or to any of the excipients

Horses:
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data):
Injection site swelling
,
Central nervous system disorder
, Convulsion
.
Cardiac depression
2,4
,
Respiratory depression
2,4
.
Transient.
In case of inadvertent intra-vascular injection or excessive use local anaesthetics
can cause systemic toxicity.
Administration of diazepam should be considered.
Administration of oxygen should be considered.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national
competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for
respective contact details.

None.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
Aspirate prior to and during administration to avoid intra-vascular injection.
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The analgesic effect of mepivacaine, when used as part of a lameness investigation,
begins to subside after 45 - 60 minutes. However, sufficient analgesia may persist to
affect gait beyond two hours.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
People with known hypersensitivity to mepivacaine or other local anaesthetics of the
amide group should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
This veterinary medicinal product may be an irritant to the skin and eyes.
Avoid contact with the skin and eyes. Wash any splashes from skin and eyes
immediately with plenty of water. Seek medical advice if irritation persists.
Adverse effects on the foetus cannot be excluded. The veterinary medicinal product
should not be administered by pregnant women.
Accidental self-injection may result in cardiorespiratory and/or CNS effects. Care
should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection. In case of accidental self-injection
seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the
physician. Do not drive.
Wash hands after use.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.

Mepivacaine should be used carefully in patients undergoing treatment with other
local anaesthetics of the amide group since the toxic effects are additive.

Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage
conditions.

Meat and offal: 3 days
Milk: 72 hours
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4.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.