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. Praziquantel is also commonly used in combination with other antiparasitic medications.
Its use in cats, dogs, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and large animals to treat certain parasites is ‘off label’ or ‘extra label’. Many drugs are commonly prescribed for off label use in veterinary medicine. In these instances, follow your veterinarian’s directions and cautions very carefully as their direction may be significantly different from those on the label.
Description
Praziquantel is a narrow-spectrum antiparasitic active ingredient used in veterinary and human medicine. It is used in dogs, cats, horses and livestock against internal parasites, mainly tapeworms. It is not used against agricultural and household pests. It belongs to the chemical class of the isoquinolines. Praziquantel is a dewormer that is effective only against tapeworms. It is frequently used in a wide variety of species, including dogs, cats, horses, sheep, reptiles, and even humans.
Praziquantel was initially approved for human use in 1982. It is now widely available and is carried by nearly every veterinary practice in the United States. Most veterinarians prescribe this drug on a daily, or near-daily, basis, to treat pets with evidence of tapeworms. Praziquantel does not require a visit to a veterinary specialist. Praziquantel is available in a number of forms, both as a sole agent and in combination with other dewormers. If your pet is diagnosed with tapeworms, your veterinarian will likely prescribe praziquantel for treatment. In some cases, your veterinarian may recommend a broad-spectrum dewormer for your dog, which contains praziquantel in combination with other deworming agents. Some monthly heartworm preventatives also contain praziquantel to prevent tapeworm infection.
Specification
- Drug Name: Praziquantel
- Common Name: Droncit®, Drontal®, Drontal Plus®
- Drug Type: Antihelmintic
- Used For: Eradication of tapeworms
- Species: Dogs, Cats
- Administered: 23mg, 34mg Tablet, Injectable
- How Dispensed: Prescription only
- FDA Approved: Yes
Praziquantel Dosages for Dogs
Praziquantel dosages for dogs vary based on a dog’s size. The dose of medication is directly proportional to the dog’s weight. There are several different tablet sizes of praziquantel available. Small dogs typically receive the small 23 mg tablets while large dogs are often prescribed the large 50 mg tablets. Your veterinarian will provide the correct tablet size for your dog and tell you how many of the tablets to give. In most cases, a one-time treatment of praziquantel is all that is necessary to eliminate a tapeworm infection. If praziquantel is provided in combination with another dewormer, however, it may be necessary to repeat the treatment since some intestinal parasites require multiple dewormer doses in order to be cleared. Additionally, dogs that are at a high risk of tapeworm infection may be prescribed praziquantel to give on a regular or recurring basis.
You can administer praziquantel with a meal or on an empty stomach. It is equally effective with or without food, so dosing can be performed in whatever method is most convenient for you. Tapeworm Dewormer (praziquantel tablets) may be given directly in the mouth or crumbled and mixed with the food. Administer to dogs and puppies* only as follows:
| Body Weight (lbs) | No. of Tablets |
| 5 lbs. and under | ½ tablet |
| 6-10 lbs. | 1 tablet |
| 11-15 lbs. | 1 ½ tablets |
| 16-30 lbs. | 2 tablets |
| 31-45 lbs. | 3 tablets |
| 46-60 lbs. | 4 tablets |
| over 60 lbs. | 5 tablets maximum |
Side Effects and Drug Reactions
Praziquantel may result in these side effects:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea or loose stool
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Pain at the injection site
- Drooling in cats
Prices of Praziquantel For Dogs
$28.49 – $45.00