Praziquantel
Prazinoisoquinoline derivative
También conocido como: Droncit · Drontal Plus · Profender · Quest Plus · Equimax · Zimecterin Gold · Virbantel · Panacur Plus · Biltricide · Milbemax · Broadline · Milpro · EMBAY-8440 · praziquantelum · Bio-Cest · Cercon · Cesol · Cestox · Cisticid · ComboCare · Cysticide · Ehliten · Extiser Q · Mycotricide · Opticide · Praquantel · Prasikon · Prazite · Prozitel · Sincerck · Teniken · Waycital · Zifartel · PZQ
Revisado por el equipo veterinario de VetSheetActualizado 5 abr 2026Referencia veterinaria basada en la evidencia
Evidencia de dosis v13 auditada
Evidencia estructurada para el cálculoPraziquantel as a single agent (extra-label) — Alaria spp
Requiere verificación veterinaria
Pautas alternativas: elija una
- once
- q24h · for 2 to 10 days
NA
Contexto clínico obligatorio (4)
- NOTE: For dosages of other combination products that contain praziquantel, see Emodepside/Praziquantel, Eprinomectin/ Praziquantel, Ivermectin, Lufenuron, Milbemycin Oxime, Moxidectin/Moxidectin Combination Products, and Pyrantel.
- Praziquantel as a single agent (extra-label):
- ■ This medicine can be given with or without food. The tablets may be crushed or mixed with food. Your animal does not need to have food withheld prior to treatment.
- Unless otherwise instructed by the manufacturer, praziquantel tablets should be stored in tight containers at room temperature (25°C Products [77°F]). Protect from light. Praziquantel injection should be stored at or below 25°C (77°F) and not allowed to freeze. Vials of praziquantel injection should be used within 6 months of first vial puncture and discarded after a maximum number of punctures (10 mL vial, 25 times; 50 mL vial, 90 times).
Praziquantel as a single agent (extra-label) — Adjunctive treatment of flukes (Nanophyetus salmincola) associated with Salmon poisoning
Requiere verificación veterinaria
- once
NA
Contexto clínico obligatorio (4)
- NOTE: For dosages of other combination products that contain praziquantel, see Emodepside/Praziquantel, Eprinomectin/ Praziquantel, Ivermectin, Lufenuron, Milbemycin Oxime, Moxidectin/Moxidectin Combination Products, and Pyrantel.
- Praziquantel as a single agent (extra-label):
- ■ This medicine can be given with or without food. The tablets may be crushed or mixed with food. Your animal does not need to have food withheld prior to treatment.
- Unless otherwise instructed by the manufacturer, praziquantel tablets should be stored in tight containers at room temperature (25°C Products [77°F]). Protect from light. Praziquantel injection should be stored at or below 25°C (77°F) and not allowed to freeze. Vials of praziquantel injection should be used within 6 months of first vial puncture and discarded after a maximum number of punctures (10 mL vial, 25 times; 50 mL vial, 90 times).
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Resumen
El praziquantel es un antihelmíntico de amplio espectro altamente eficaz contra cestodos (tenias) y trematodos (duelas), ampliamente utilizado en medicina veterinaria.
Las características clínicas clave incluyen:
- Amplio espectro: Altamente eficaz contra las principales especies de tenias, incluyendo Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp. y Echinococcus spp. en perros y gatos.
- Eficacia contra trematodos: También se utiliza fuera de indicación (off-label) para diversas infecciones por duelas (por ejemplo, Paragonimus kellicotti, duelas hepáticas).
- Alto margen de seguridad: Generalmente muy seguro, aunque las formulaciones inyectables pueden causar dolor local transitorio o signos sistémicos leves.
- Terapia combinada: Frecuentemente se combina con otros parasiticidas (como pirantel, febantel, ivermectina o moxidectina) para proporcionar un control integral de parásitos internos.
Nota clínica: Debido a que el praziquantel daña el tegumento del parásito, los gusanos suelen ser digeridos por el huésped. Por lo tanto, rara vez se observan tenias intactas en las heces después de un tratamiento exitoso.
Mecanismo de acción
Praziquantel's exact mechanism is not fully elucidated, but it rapidly penetrates the parasite and alters the permeability of the cell membranes.
- Ion Flux Alteration: Interacts with phospholipids in the parasite's integument → induces rapid intracellular influx of calcium ions (Ca2+), as well as sodium and potassium fluxes.
- Spastic Paralysis: The sudden calcium influx causes severe, sustained contraction and spastic paralysis of the worm's musculature, impairing sucker function and dislodging the parasite.
- Tegumental Destruction: At higher concentrations, it causes irreversible focal vacuolization → subsequent disintegration of the cestodal integument. This exposes the parasite's internal antigens to the host's immune system and renders it susceptible to digestion by host enzymes.
- Trematodes: Directly kills the parasite via similar calcium-mediated focal vacuolization and subsequent phagocytosis.
Seguridad y advertencias
Contraindicaciones
- Puppies less than 4 weeks old (for solo product)
- Kittens less than 6 weeks old (for solo product)
- Known hypersensitivity to praziquantel
- Unweaned puppies or kittens (unlikely to be affected by tapeworms at this age)
- Animals weighing < 1 kg (specifically for spot-on preparations)
Efectos adversos
- Oral (uncommon, <5%): Anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, salivation (cats)
- Injectable (dogs): Pain at injection site, vomiting, drowsiness, staggering gait
- Injectable (cats): Diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, salivation, sleepiness, transient anorexia, pain at injection site
- Diarrhoea
- Transient hypersalivation (if spot-on application site is licked)
- Localized tissue sensitivity and pain at injection site (particularly in cats)
Precauciones
Age Restrictions: The manufacturer recommends not using solo praziquantel in puppies < 4 weeks or kittens < 6 weeks. However, some combination products (e.g., with febantel) are FDA-approved for puppies and kittens of all ages. Pregnancy: Considered safe to use in pregnant dogs and cats (Papich Class A). Nursing: Appears in maternal milk at ~25% of maternal serum concentration, but is unlikely to pose harm to nursing offspring.
Interacciones farmacológicas
Reportedly synergistic activity occurs in humans in the treatment of schistosomiasis; clinical implications in veterinary patients are unclear.
Can increase the area under the curve (AUC) of orally administered praziquantel by 150-200% in dogs.
Concurrent administration may significantly decrease serum praziquantel concentrations.
May decrease the metabolic clearance of praziquantel, increasing its serum levels.
Monitorización
- Clinical efficacy (resolution of parasite infection)
- Fecal examination for tapeworm proglottids or eggs to confirm efficacy of treatment
- Monitoring for resolution of clinical signs (e.g., scooting, visible segments in feces)
Farmacocinética
Vida media
Absorción
Rapidly and nearly completely absorbed after oral administration, but undergoes a significant first-pass effect. Peak serum levels are achieved between 30-120 minutes in dogs.
Distribución
Distributed widely throughout the body. It crosses the intestinal wall and penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the CNS.
Metabolismo
Metabolized extensively in the liver via CYP3A enzymes to metabolites of unknown activity.
Eliminación
Excreted primarily in the urine.
Sobredosis
Praziquantel has a wide margin of safety.
- Rodents: Oral LD50 is at least 2 g/kg in rats and mice.
- Dogs: An oral LD50 could not be determined because doses >200 mg/kg induce vomiting. In ASPCA APCC reports, dogs exposed to overdoses showed no clinical signs.
- Cats: Parenteral doses of 50-100 mg/kg caused transient ataxia and depression. Injected doses at 200 mg/kg were lethal. In ASPCA APCC reports, a minority of exposed cats showed clinical signs.
Treatment: Overdoses are generally self-limiting (especially oral, due to vomiting). Provide supportive care if severe neurological or gastrointestinal signs occur.
Productos disponibles
Formulaciones
- Chewable tablets
- Injection (solution)
- Oral gel
- Oral paste
- Oral tablets: 10 mg, 20 mg, 25 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, 125 mg, 144 mg, 150 mg, 175 mg
- Topical spot-on pipettes: 20 mg, 25 mg, 30 mg, 60 mg, 75 mg, 96 mg
- Injectable solution (implied by adverse reactions profile)
Veterinario
- Praziquantel Tablets: 23 mg (feline); 34 mg (canine) (Droncit)
- Praziquantel Injection: 56.8 mg/mL in 10 mL and 50 mL vials (Droncit)
- Combination Tablets: Praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate (Drontal)
- Combination Chewable Tablets: Praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate (Virbantel)
- Combination Chewable Tablets: Fenbendazole/Ivermectin/Praziquantel (Panacur Plus Soft Chews)
- Combination Tablets: Praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel (Drontal Plus)
- Combination Oral Gel: Moxidectin 20 mg/mL / Praziquantel 125 mg/mL (Quest Plus, ComboCare)
- Combination Oral Paste: Ivermectin 1.87% / Praziquantel 14.03% (Equimax)
- Combination Oral Paste: Ivermectin 1.55% / Praziquantel 7.75% (Zimecterin Gold Paste)
- Drontal (combination)
- Milbemax (combination)
- Profender Spot-on (combination)
- Broadline Spot-on (combination)
- Milpro (combination)
- Cazitel
- Cestem
- Dolpac
- Endoguard
- Veloxa
Etiquetado para humanos
- Praziquantel Oral Tablets (Film-coated): 600 mg (Biltricide)
- Biltricide 600 mg tablets
Estado regulador
Classification varies by formulation and combination (POM-V, NFA-VPS, AVM-GSL).
Available under POM-V, NFA-VPS, and AVM-GSL categories depending on the specific product and combination.
Sin datos reguladores para: 🇺🇸 US · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Almacenamiento y estabilidad
Unless otherwise instructed by the manufacturer, praziquantel tablets should be stored in tight containers at room temperature. Protect from light.
Información para el cliente
Información importante para los propietarios de mascotas
- Administración: Puede administrar este medicamento con o sin comida. No es necesario el ayuno antes de la dosificación. Las tabletas pueden triturarse o mezclarse con una pequeña cantidad de comida apetecible para facilitar su administración.
- Qué esperar: Es completamente normal no ver gusanos muertos en las heces de su mascota después del tratamiento. El praziquantel hace que las tenias se desintegren y, por lo general, son digeridas por el cuerpo de su mascota.
- Prevención de la reinfección: Una sola dosis suele ser altamente eficaz para eliminar la infección actual. Sin embargo, las tenias (especialmente Dipylidium caninum) se transmiten a través de las pulgas. Un control estricto de las pulgas es esencial para evitar que su mascota vuelva a contraer tenias. Si su mascota caza o come roedores, también puede estar en riesgo de reinfección.
- Efectos secundarios: Los efectos secundarios son raros cuando se administran por vía oral, pero ocasionalmente pueden incluir vómitos leves, salivación (especialmente en gatos), letargo o diarrea. Si su mascota recibió una inyección, podría experimentar dolor temporal en el sitio de la inyección.
La referencia de medicamentos de VetSheet está destinada a profesionales veterinarios autorizados como ayuda para la toma de decisiones clínicas, no como sustituto del criterio profesional ni del prospecto actual del fabricante.