Praziquantel

Chemical group: Acylated quinoline-pyrazine

Trade names: Droncit,  Tape Worm Tabs,  Drontal¹, Drontal Plus² 

Mode of action: Modulates cell membrane permeability (calcium dependent), leads to a disintegration of the tapeworm’s tegument.

Pharmacokinetics: Rapidly absorbed from the gut, metabolized in the liver, metabolites and unchanged parent compound pass out in the feces.

Dose: Cyclophyllidean Tapeworms:  3 to 5 mg/kg (PO or SC)

            Pseudopyllidean Tapeworms:    35 mg/kg (SC)³

            Intestinal Trematodes:   30 mg/kg (PO)

            Lung flukes in dogs:        25 mg/kg, TID for 2 days. ⁴

Toxicity: LD50 in rats is between 2000 and 3000 mg/kg.  No clinical effects seen in dogs or cats dosed with 100 mg/kg.

Parasite Targets: Tapeworms and trematodes.

1.  Drontal contains Praziquantel and Pyrantel Pamoate.

2. Drontal Plus contains Praziquantel, Pyrantel Pamoate and Febantel.

 3. Sakamoto, T.   1977.  Veterinary Medical Review.   1:64-74.

4. Kirkpatrick and Shelly.  1985.  Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 187(1):75-6.

© University of Pennsylvania  2004

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