POM-VPS Prescription Required

Tricaine Pharmaq 1000 mg/g Powder for Solution for Fish Treatment

Active ingredient: Tricaine methanesulfonate

Form

Powder

Species

Fish

Manufacturer

Pharmaq Ltd

VMD MA No.

11003/5000

What it's used for

For use in an immersion bath for sedation, immobilisation and anaesthesia of fish for: vaccination, transportation, weighing, tagging, clipping, stripping...

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 Tricaine methanesulfonate

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.

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Prescription required

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

Clinical information

Tricaine Pharmaq 1000 mg/g Powder for Solution for Fish Treatment — SPC Details

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

For use in an immersion bath for sedation, immobilisation and anaesthesia of fish for:
vaccination, transportation, weighing, tagging, clipping, stripping of breed stock,
blood-sampling and surgical procedures.

The product should be dissolved in water of the same composition and
characteristics as that to which the fish are accustomed. As the product has good
aqueous solubility, it may be added directly to the container. Effects on the fish
should be monitored as the product is gradually introduced.
A number of factors influence the efficacy and safety of the product, including
concentration of the drug in water, duration of exposure, previous exposures to the
drug, temperature, oxygen content, salinity and hardness of water, size of fish
(smaller are more susceptible) and density of biomass. Because of these variable
factors it is strongly recommended that a test of the selected drug concentration and
exposure time is conducted with a small group of representative fish before large
numbers are medicated. This is especially important when water temperature is at
the upper or lower ends of the normal temperature ranges for the species being
treated.
Before anaesthesia, or prolonged sedation, fish should be fasted for 12 to 24 hours.
During treatment they should be stocked at a density not exceeding 80g/litre. To
minimise damage and loss when medicated for long periods for transport etc. the
level of sedation should allow fish to maintain their equilibrium and swimming
position. Aeration should be provided unless sedation, or anaesthesia, is of short
duration. In anaesthesia loss of reflexes takes place in one to fifteen minutes after
immersion depending upon concentration employed. Narcotised fish should be
removed from medicated water and returned to their normal environment as soon as
possible, when recovery will take between one and 30 minutes.
The following examples of dose rates and exposure times are based on laboratory
and field experience:
Concentration
mg/litre of
water
Immersion
time
(mins)
Trout species (7-
17ºC)
Sedation10-30Up to 480AnaesthesiaLight
Deeper
30-80
80-180
Up to 30
Up to 10
Salmon speciesSedation7-30Up to 240AnaesthesiaLight
Deeper
30-80
80-100
Up to 10
Up to 5
Bass speciesSedation8-30Up to 480AnaesthesiaLight
Deeper
30-70
70-100
Up to 20
Up to 4
Carp speciesSedation20-30Up to 1440Anaesthesia30-200Up to 8Fresh water tropical fishSedation30-50Up to 1440

Do not use in the following tropical fish species:
Apistogramma (Mikrogeophagus) ramirez, Balantiocheilos melanopterus, Etroplus
suratensis, Melanotaenia maccullochi, Monodactylus argenteus, Phenacogrammus
interruptus Scatophagus argus.
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance.

None.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
Do not exceed the dose recommended for each category of fish.
Brood stock anaesthetised for stripping should be immersed in unmedicated water
immediately before collection of eggs or milt to avoid significant direct contact of
either with the product.
As solutions of the veterinary medicinal product are slightly acidic, the use of
phosphate or imidazol buffer has been proposed to reduce stress.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show the
package leaflet or the label to the physician.
People with known hypersensitivity to tricaine mesilate (tricaine methanesulfonate)
should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
Personal protective equipment consisting of impermeable rubber gloves should be
worn when handling the veterinary medicinal product.
Do not create dust when handling the powder or preparing the anaesthetic solution.
In case of accidental inhalation of dust, move to fresh air and if breathing is affected,
seek medical advice immediately and show the doctor the product label. In situations
where dust is created when handling the powder, wear a disposable half mask
respirator conforming to European Standard EN 149 or a non-disposable respirator to
European Standard EN 140 with a filter to EN 143.
Avoid contact with skin and eyes. In case of accidental contact, immediately wash the
affected area with plenty of clean running water. If irritation persists, seek medical
advice.
Do not eat, drink or smoke whilst handling this product. Wash hands after use.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
In order to protect the environment, used solution must either be filtered using
activated charcoal filters prior to dilution in the effluent to be discharged from the farm
or it must be transferred to a holding tank filled with water with subsequent controlled
release for dilution in the effluent to be discharged from the farm, see section 5.5.

Tricaine methanesulfonate has been used successfully at lower concentrations in
conjunction with several other anaesthetics. No adverse interaction with other
pharmaceuticals has been established.

Store in the original container. Keep the container tightly closed in order to protect
from moisture.
Store in a dry place. Protect solution from direct sunlight.
This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage
conditions.

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 the national competent authority via the
national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.
3.7 Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
Not applicable.
3.8 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Tricaine methanesulfonate has been used successfully at lower concentrations in
conjunction with several other anaesthetics. No adverse interaction with other

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.