Praziquantel (brand names: Droncit®, Drontal®, Biltricide®, Bio-Cest®, Cercon®, Cesol®, Cestox®, Cisticid®, ComboCare®, Cysticide®, Ehliten®, Equimax®, Extiser Q®, Mycotricide®, Opticide®, Quest Plus®, Praquantel®, Prasikon®, Prazite®, Prozitel®, Sincerck®, Teniken®, Virbantel®, Waycital®, or Zifartel®, and Zimecterin Gold Paste®) is an antiparasitic dewormer used to treat a variety of parasite infections, most commonly tapeworms, in cats, dogs, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and large animals. Praziquantel is also commonly used in combination with other antiparasitic medications.
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Its use in treating certain parasites is sometimes off label (extra label). Many drugs are commonly prescribed for off-label use in veterinary medicine. &#;Off label&#; means the drug is being used in a way that has not been reviewed or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Health Canada. In these instances, follow your veterinarian&#;s directions and cautions carefully, as they may be significantly different from those on the label.
This medication should take effect within 1 to 2 hours; however, effects may not be noted outwardly, and laboratory tests may need to be done to evaluate this medication&#;s effectiveness.
If you miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember, and then wait the recommended amount of time between doses. Do not give the pet two doses at once.
In dogs, praziquantel may cause the following side effects:
In cats, side effects are very rare, but may include the following:
Side effects after the injection include:
This moderate-acting medication should stop working in a few days, although effects can be longer in pets with liver or kidney disease.
Praziquantel should NOT BE USED in:
Praziquantel should USED WITH CAUTION in lactating pets. If praziquantel is given, the mother should not nurse for four days following the dose.
Products containing only praziquantel are likely safe for pregnant pets.
The following medications should be used with caution when given with praziquantel:
Be sure to tell your veterinarian about any medications (including vitamins, supplements, or herbal therapies) that your pet is taking.
If you suspect an overdose or an adverse reaction to the medication, call your veterinary office immediately. If they are not available, follow their directions in contacting an emergency facility.
PetMD&#;s medications content was written and reviewed by veterinary professionals to answer your most common questions about how medications function, their side effects, and what species they are prescribed for. This content shouldn&#;t take the place of advice by your vet.
Praziquantel is a type of medication called an anthelmintic, meaning that it treats parasitic worms. Praziquantel is effective in the treatment of tapeworms. There are a number of tapeworm types that can affect dogs and cats and this product takes care of several including Dipylidium caninum and Taenia pisiformis/taeniaeformis. In dogs it is also used in the treatment of a rarer species of tapeworms (Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis).
The way in which praziquantel works against tapeworms is not entirely known, but it is suspected that it interferes with integrity of the worm's skin and causes paralysis. The deceased worms will either be defecated out or be digested with the rest of the ingested in the pet's digestive tract.
Praziquantel can be used as a standalone medication but is also used in combination with other products, like other anthelmintic products, but also in combination with flea or heartworm preventatives. Praziquantel and praziquantel combination products are available in many forms such as tablets, chews, topicals and as an injectable.
Praziquantel as a sole medication is available as a tablet (Droncit®) and as an injection (Praziquantel®). Common products that contain praziquantel along with other medications include: Interceptor Plus®, Sentinel®, Iverhart Max®, Profender®, Centragard®, Drontal®, and Virbantel®.
Because praziquantel is utilized in many different types of products, it is important to follow the directions on the drug label or as provided by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may recommend giving this medication once for the treatment of tapeworms and they may recommend giving it twice&#;several weeks apart due to the nature of the tapeworm lifecycle in dogs and cats. If praziquantel is part of your pet's heartworm prevention medication&#;these medications are typically given orally once per month.
Dogs with an MDR-1 gene mutation (also called ABCB1) are at a slightly greater risk for an overdose. This product is safe for pets with this gene mutation at normal doses.
Missed a Dose?
If you forget to give a dose of praziquantel or a praziquantel containing product, give it when you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your normal dosing schedule. Do not give extra or double doses.
Most pets do quite well with this medication. When seen, side effects may include:
Lack of appetite
Vomiting
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Diarrhea
Lethargy
Drooling
Weakness
In addition to those symptoms, those pets receiving the injectable version of this medication can have soreness in the area the injection was given.
You may see dead tapeworms in your pet's stool if this medication was used to treat an active tapeworm infection; however it is more likely that you will not see any tapeworms in your pet's stool.
Human Side Effects
While praziquantel is also used as a human prescription medication there are different dosages and side effects that can occur in humans. If you accidentally ingest a pet medication, call your physician or the national Poison Control Center hotline at 800-222-.
Monitoring
No specific monitoring is required for this medication, but your veterinarian may recommend routine testing depending on your pets' individual needs, other medications they may be on and/or the issue that initially caused your pet to be placed on this medication.
Call Your Vet If:
Severe side effects are seen (see above) or persistent vomiting or bloody diarrhea
You see or suspect an overdose
You have additional questions or concerns about the use of praziquantel
Praziquantel overdoses are quite rare as this medication has a large margin of safety. Dogs with an MDR-1 gene mutation (also called ABCB1) are at a slightly greater risk for an overdose. This product is extremely safe for pets with this gene mutation at normal doses.
With large overdoses, in dogs and cats, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, trouble walking and even death can be seen if the overdose is large enough.
If you suspect an overdose, immediately contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center. Consultation fees often apply.
Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-
Storage recommendations will greatly depend on the product or combination product being used. Stand alone tablet versions of this medication are generally recommended to be stored below 77 F. With all tablet medications please keep the container tightly closed in order to protect from moisture and light.
Keep out of reach of children and pets.
No vet writer or qualified reviewer has received any compensation from the manufacturer of the medication as part of creating this article. All content contained in this article is sourced from public sources or the manufacturer.
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WRITTEN BY
Stephanie Howe, DVMDr. Stephanie Howe graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in , after receiving a Bachelor of Science...
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