
Nitenpyram has also been considered one of the safest flea medications to use for breeding, pregnant, and lactating animals. Although labeled for cats older than 4 weeks of age, Capstar should still be used cautiously in cats less than 8 weeks old. More serious side effects were more commonly seen in cats weighing less than 2 pounds, and those who are thin or emaciated. Because Capstar kills fleas quickly and has a short, 24 hour range of efficacy, the side effects are usually self-limiting and resolve without any treatment. being secondary to the medication itself. It is thought that at least some of these signs may be more associated with the die-off process of affected fleas vs. Reportedly, nitenpyram is 3500 times more selective for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in insects compared to vertebrates like cats, dogs, and humans, making it very unlikely to exert any of its effects on a host kitty.Ĭapstar has also been studied using 10 times the labeled dosage for 30 days without adverse effects being seen.Īll the same, adverse effects have been reported, including hyperactivity, panting, lethargy, itching, vocalizing, vomiting, decreased appetite, hypersalivation (drooling), incoordination, seizures, dilated pupils, elevated heart rate, and trembling. Side Effects Of Capstar For Catsĭespite being a very safe drug, some adverse effects have been reported, including hyperactivity, panting, lethargy, itching, vocalizing, vomiting and decreased appetite.Ĭapstar tablets are labeled for use in cats and kittens weighing 2lb or more and older than 4 weeks of age.Ĭapstar is considered to be a very safe drug to use. When flea eggs or larvae are not being treated, it often takes much longer to rid a cat and the home environment of fleas. If Capstar alone was used to treat for fleas, all the eggs laid and larvae that exist on a cat or in the home environment would develop into adults days or a couple weeks later.
#Walmart capster how to#
Practically, a single dose of Capstar is often used in a veterinary office if fleas are seen on a cat, so that all the adult fleas can be killed and the risk of any jumping to other patients in the hospital is reduced, keeping any potential spread of fleas in a clinic or hospital isolated.Ĭapstar also makes it easier to bathe and clean a cat with a bad flea infestation, when all of the adult fleas are dead.Īlso Read: How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Your CatĬapstar is only effective for about 24 hours, making it not the best choice for eliminating a full flea infestation, because it is very short-acting and has no effect on eggs or larvae. Reportedly, it has a 99% kill rate for adult fleas within 3 to 6 hours of being given.Ĭapstar is most often used as a fast-acting way of killing adult fleas on a kitty to provide some immediate relief from their biting, prevent adults from jumping over to other pets, and stop egg-laying and perpetuation of the flea life cycle. However, it is considered very safe to use and starts working within 30 minutes. When nitenpyram blocks acetylcholine’s function, this leads to paralysis and death of the flea.Ĭapstar kind of gets the ball rolling on treating a cat for fleas, but it only kills adult fleas and has no effect on flea eggs or larvae.


When the medication enters a flea’s circulation after it bites a treated cat, the drug binds to receptors in the flea called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.Īcetylcholine is a neurotransmitter responsible for many functions including muscle movement and central nervous systemic function. Nitenpyram is in the class of neonicotinoid insecticides. Shelf life is reported to be 3 years if stored below 25 degrees C (76 degrees F) About Capstar For CatsĬapstar is a brand name for the active ingredient nitenpyram, which is an oral insecticide medication that targets only adult fleas.
