POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Somulose 400 mg/ml + 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection

Active ingredients: Cinchocaine Hydrochloride, Secobarbital Sodium

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Cattle Dogs Horses

Manufacturer

Dechra Regulatory B.V.

VMD MA No.

50406/5028

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 Cinchocaine 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

Somulose 400 mg/ml + 25 mg/ml Solution for Injection — SPC Details

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

Recommended dose:
Dogs and cats intravenously: 0.25 ml/kg body weight.
Horses and cattle intravenously: 1.0 ml/10 kg body weight.
Administration: as with other methods of euthanasia, care should be taken not to
excite the animal during preparation. Many authorities recommend that the procedure

Amended Pages: December 2025
should be carried out in familiar surroundings avoiding harsh lights and sudden
noises where possible. During the preparation and administration, it is often helpful to
handle the animal carefully, but firmly, comforting it with gentle talk and coaxing as
one would for the quiet induction of anaesthesia. This can also serve to calm
apprehensive animals.
Perivascular administration of secobarbitone may delay the onset of effect and cause
pain and result in excitement. Placement of a venous catheter is therefore
recommended and care should be taken to ensure (by aspiration) that the injection is
correctly placed in the vein. In horses and cattle the use of a pre-placed 14 gauge
jugular catheter is strongly recommended. In horses, the administration of
detomidine, or suitable alternative, by slow IV injection is recommended to produce
profound sedation prior to euthanasia. However, this may produce a slower onset of
euthanasia.
N.B. The speed of injection is very important. Administer the full dose over 10–15
seconds in order to minimise premature cardiac arrest. Additionally, an injection rate
that is too slow may induce normal collapse, but prolong the period until death.
Do not use if solution is not clear or if any sediment is observed.

The combination product must not be used for anaesthesia, it is non-sterile.
Do not use the carcass for animal consumption due to the risk of secondary
intoxication.

Horses:
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000
animals treated):
Lack of efficacy
a
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Excitation
Muscle tremor, Convulsion
a
The recommended dose may be insufficient to achieve rapid euthanasia
Sedation prior to euthanasia is recommended in horses (see also section 3.9).
Dogs, cats and cattle:
None known.
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.

Non-vascular administration may delay onset of effect, cause pain and result in
excitement.
Rarely, horses may show resistance to euthanasia and prior use of sedation should
be considered in each case (see also section 3.9). It is always advisable to have an
alternative method of euthanasia available.

Amended Pages: December 2025

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
Care should be taken not to excite the animal. The dose is to be administered
intravenously only (see also section 3.9).
It is strongly recommended that carcasses of animals euthanased with the veterinary
medicinal product are incinerated.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
The veterinary medicinal product is a potent drug which is highly toxic to man.
Extreme care should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection. Use an intravenous
catheter instead of a needle whenever possible.
Personal protective equipment consisting of impermeable gloves should be worn
when handling the veterinary medicinal product. Wash off splashes from skin and
eyes immediately. Wash hands after use.
Due to the rapid onset of action of secobarbitone if accidentally self-administered,
this product should only be administered in the presence of an assistant/other
individual.
Once the required dose has been withdrawn from the vial, the mini-spike, or needle,
should be removed from the syringe and discarded into a closed container. A sterile
catheter should be inserted into the vein and the syringe connected to it. Particular
care should be taken in large and/or fractious animals. Do not approach any animal
with an unguarded needle on a full syringe.
In case of accidental self-administration, by injection or skin absorption, seek medical
advice immediately advising the medical service of barbiturate and local anaesthetic
poisoning and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.
To the physician: Do not leave patient unattended. Maintain airways and give
symptomatic and supportive treatment.
Cinchocaine can cause hypersensitivity following skin contact. Hypersensitivity to
cinchocaine may lead to contact dermatitis, which can become severe.
Do not handle this product if you know you are sensitised, or if you have been
advised not to work with such preparations.
Handle this product with great care to avoid exposure, taking all recommended
precautions.
If you develop symptoms following exposure, such as skin rash, seek medical advice
immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician. Swelling of
the face, lips or eyes, or difficulty breathing may occur although these have not been
reported, and are more serious symptoms that require urgent medical attention.

Amended Pages: December 2025
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.

None known.

Do not store above 25ºC.
Do not refrigerate or freeze.
Protect from frost.
Protect from light.

Not authorised for use in animals intended for human or animal consumption due to
the risk of secondary intoxication.
Treated animals may never be slaughtered for human or animal consumption.
Horses must have been declared as not intended for human consumption under
national horse passport legislation.
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.