Composition and analogues
Pyrantel is a synthetic active substance that has pronounced anthelmintic properties. It is used in medicine and veterinary medicine as part of complex multicomponent preparations or independently, as it is characterized by a wide spectrum of action. It is sold on the market under its own name Pirantel (currently quite rare), as well as under the trade name Biltricide. Included in veterinary drugs.
Veterinary analogue
Also analogues are:
- Helminthox;
- Nemocid;
- Pyrantela pamoate.
Instructions for use characterize the drug as an effective broad-spectrum remedy. After two doses of the active substance, complete cure occurs in 98-100% of patients.
Dosage forms and prices
Currently, two main dosage forms of the drug are sold in pharmacies. It is preferable to give tablets to animals, since they, unlike suspensions, do not contain sugars, which are harmful to cats, dogs and birds.
- Pyrantel tablets contain 250 mg of active substance (in one tablet). It can be used for adults, children, and also animals. Sodium starch and corn starch, talc, magnesium stearate, etc. are used as auxiliary components. The cost of these anti-worm tablets is about 20 rubles;
- Pyrantel (suspension) is intended primarily for children. The dosage of the active substance is 250 mg of pyrantel in 5 ml of the mixture. Additional components used include sucrose, sorbic acid, etc. The suspension should not be used for animals. Its cost is about 45 rubles.
Although the drug is included in many veterinary drugs, it is not recommended to give it to animals (in the form of tablets for humans). Currently, veterinary pharmacies sell a large number of inexpensive anthelmintic drugs intended for pets. Their use reduces the risk of overdose and side effects, since they are designed taking into account the characteristics of the organisms of dogs and cats.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any other drug, Pyrantel for dogs combines both pros and cons, which are associated with its overall effectiveness, side effects and comparative analysis with other drugs.
Pros of Pyrantel:
- A universal drug for any breed of dog older than 1 month and weighing more than 1 kilogram (2.5 kilogram for large breeds).
Low toxicity, practically not absorbed into the blood.
- The remains of the drug and the parasites themselves are excreted naturally in the feces.
- Pyrantel suspension for dogs is the easiest way to carry out routine deworming of an animal, since the sweet suspension is rarely spat out by dogs.
- Low price and widespread in pharmacies.
- Very rarely causes an allergic reaction.
- If you buy pyrantel for a small breed of dog at a regular pharmacy, you can find a suspension with different aromas, which makes it even easier for the animal to take the drug.
Cons of pyrantel:
- The larger the dog, the lower the overall effectiveness of the medication.
- Does not affect parasites outside the intestines.
- It does not remove parasite eggs, and as a result, it requires repeated use after the period of incubation of parasite eggs.
- It does not have a prophylactic effect, it acts only in the presence of parasites in the body.
Pyrantel in tablet form is difficult to swallow for a dog, like any other tablet drug. But since these tablets do not have a strong odor, you can give them along with soft food or wrapped in a piece of treat, for example stuffing the tablets into a piece of baked cheesecake.
- Individual intolerance to the drug is revealed only after taking it. Side effects include: weakness, refusal to eat, thirst, vomiting and diarrhea, arrhythmia, fever, disturbance in spatial orientation. They are rare, but it is still better to know about them.
- Pyrantel in its pure form is absolutely useless against roundworms, hookworms, and uncinaria.
Operating principle
The principle of action of the medicine is as follows:
- The active substance, almost unchanged, penetrates the gastrointestinal tract;
- It has a toxic effect on worms, causing them to block neuromuscular impulses;
- As a result, paralysis of the worm occurs, during which individuals detach from the walls of the mucous membranes;
- The parasites do not die, but are easily removed from the intestines, as they are paralyzed.
Due to the fact that Pirantel for dogs, cats and people does not cause the death of parasites, the body is not poisoned by the products of their decomposition. The drug is highly effective against forms of parasites that are sensitive to it, both mature and immature. Depending on the type of parasite, the effectiveness of the product can reach different levels.
Contraindications for use
Since the use of pyrantel does not have a toxic effect and is almost harmless to the body, there cannot be many contraindications. It is used with caution only in cases of kidney disease, and also in conjunction with drugs that have a laxative effect. Consultation with a veterinarian is also necessary if other medications are used, since pyrantel may interact with them. It is not prohibited to use this medicine during pregnancy and while feeding puppies. A very important point is the prophylactic use of the drug in animals three weeks of age, since very often puppies become infected with worms from their mother during intrauterine development. When treating and preventing them, it is best to use the product in the form of a suspension.
Scope of application
Based on their principle of action, it becomes clear that this active substance is effective only against parasites with a developed muscular system. Mostly these worms include round helminths. Pyrantel does not help against protozoan protozoan parasites, since they are cells, do not have muscles, and do not transmit nerve impulses.
Pyrantel for cats, dogs and people is prescribed for the following diagnoses:
- Ascariasis (highly effective);
- Hookworm (highly effective);
- Enterobiasis or pinworm infection (highly effective);
- Whipworm infection (moderately effective);
- Trichocephalosis (highly effective).
Pyrantel can also be given to animals with mixed infestations. However, such treatment may not be effective enough, since with mixed invasion, tapeworms are often present in the intestines, which Pirantel does not dissolve, as well as protozoal parasites.
Reviews of Pirantel for dogs
The drug is often prescribed by veterinarians to treat certain helminthiasis in dogs. The drug has virtually no contraindications, is well tolerated, and rarely causes side effects. The main difficulty is in correctly determining the dose, since there is no information about this in the instructions. Before using human medicine, you need to consult a specialist and conduct an examination of the animal. Self-medication can lead to serious consequences and lack of the desired result.
Use in cats and dogs
Many owners have questions about whether this medication can be given to cats, as they have significant restrictions on treatment with certain types of human anthelmintics. If Pirantel is given to a cat in a correctly calculated dosage and in accordance with the instructions, then with a single treatment it will not cause harm. For systematic treatment and prevention, it is necessary to use veterinary drugs.
The dosage for cats is calculated as 5 mg per 1 kg of animal body weight. An adult cat is given approximately half a tablet, a kitten - a quarter of a tablet. If a suspension is given, then an adult cat needs to drink 2.5 ml of the drug (half a measuring spoon), and a kitten needs a quarter of a measuring spoon.
It is better to take the drug an hour after eating so that the animal does not vomit, especially when the drug is soldered by force. After 10 days, you need to take it again in the same dosage (if the animal’s weight has not changed). This will help reduce the likelihood of re-infestation.
The dosage for dogs is calculated, as for cats, by weight. Animals weighing more than 2.5 kg are given 5-10 mg of the drug per 1 kg of weight. For puppies, the dosage is 10 mg per 1 kg of animal body weight. The same amount can be given to dogs whose weight is less than 2.5 kg; then, as in the case of cats, the medicine is given once, but after 10 days the dose must be repeated in the same dosage (with the same weight) for prevention.
Dosage required for treating dogs
Pyrantel is produced in 2 forms: in the form of tablets, each of which contains 0.25 g of the active substance, and in the form of a suspension with a volume of 20 ml. The average dosage of medication for treating dogs is 5 ml of pyrantel per 1 kilogram of dog weight. At the same time, the dose of tablets or suspension can vary depending on the weight of the animal; for medium-sized dogs and puppies, the dosage per 1 kilogram of weight can increase, and for a large dog, on the contrary, decrease.
For diseases of enterobiasis and ascariasis, it is enough to give pyrantel only once a day
regardless of mass. In cases where many parasites are detected in an animal at the same time, an increased dose of the drug is most often prescribed at a dosage of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight. In this case, treatment must be carried out for at least three days. The dosage of the drug also needs to be increased in case of severe forms of a disease such as necatoriasis. It is recommended to treat a dog with pyrantel for any type of worms in the morning immediately after or during feeding.
In the instructions for some veterinary medicinal products in the form of a suspension, you can see an increase in dosage several times relative to the dog’s weight, and often even with additional active substances. This is explained by low quality pyrantel, due to the fact that in medicinal preparations it is used in the form of salts of varying concentrations (pamoate or embonate), or the manufacturer is simply playing it safe due to uncertainty about the effectiveness of tablets or suspensions in the usual dosage.
Application in birds
This medicine is also used for chickens. It is given by the group method at the rate of one third of a tablet per 1 kg of bird weight. The tablet is ground into powder and given to all birds mixed with food. Treatment is carried out in this way once. Then it is repeated after 6 days, and then after another 6 days. After the third course, the animal is considered cured.
For young animals, the dose is different, so it must be calculated individually. And, in addition, it is not suitable for chickens to take the drug in a group method. Only a doctor can tell you how to give Pirantel to young animals in each specific case.
Prevention
Pyrantel is not used for prophylaxis in animals. It is effective only against roundworms, and in animals, mixed types of infestations are most often found. For this reason, the effectiveness of this active substance to protect the animal from parasites is insufficient. Even if an animal does not become infected with nematodes, it may become infected with protozoa or tapeworms.
The veterinarian will prescribe the most effective broad-spectrum preventative drug for your dog or cat.
Contraindications and side effects
Since the drug is intended for humans, it has a number of restrictions on its use in veterinary medicine.
- It should not be used on kittens less than three weeks old;
- Not prescribed during pregnancy in females, as well as during lactation;
- Human tablets cannot be used in animals with liver failure (veterinary pyrantel - with caution);
- Hypersensitivity, allergic reaction to the main and additional components of the drug (including a history).
Pyrantel's instructions for use state that it is a safe drug with a minimum of side effects. However, sometimes phenomena such as nausea and vomiting, skin reactions, allergic reactions in the form of swelling, increased hair loss, decreased appetite, and diarrhea may occur.
Description of the drug "Pirantel"
This anthelmintic drug is perfect for dogs of all breeds, regardless of the size or body weight of the animal. The medicine is aimed at destroying roundworms, including:
- roundworm;
- uncinarium;
- hookworms and other nematodes.
Since Pirantel is a low-toxicity anthelmintic, it is safe even for animals with reduced immunity.
Release form
The anthelmintic drug is sold in pharmacies without a prescription. The manufacturer provides two forms of release:
- round tablets of light lemon color, packed in blister packs of 3 or 6 pcs.;
- sweetish yellow suspension, bottled in plastic bottles with a capacity of 15 ml.
Tablets from Polpharma
Tablets from "Akrikhin"
Suspension
Compound
The main active component of the anthelmintic is pyrantel. Also contains excipients:
- sodium benzoate;
- sorbitol;
- glycerol;
- polysorbate.
The suspension additionally includes purified water, sucrose and flavorings.
Operating principle
Despite the low price, Pirantel is a fairly effective drug. The main advantage of an anthelmintic is that it does not penetrate the circulatory system, but goes directly to the intestines, where the parasites are located. The active component instantly has a paralytic effect on worms, blocking nerve impulses, as a result of which the parasites quickly die.
The anthelmintic kills not only adults, but also their larvae and laid eggs. Additionally, the drug disrupts the sexual function of roundworms, preventing them from reproducing. After the active substance wears off, dead parasites are eliminated from the body during bowel movements.
