Capstar 11.4 mg Tablets for Cats and Small Dogs

Nitenpyram

Last verified

Veterinary medicinal product: tablet. Distribution category: AVM-GSL (Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3). Active substance: Nitenpyram.1

Dispensing
Over the counter1

AVM-GSL: Authorised Veterinary Medicine - General Sale List. No prescription is needed and it may be sold by any retailer.12

Supplied without a prescription. As stated in the registration decision.

Animal species
Cats1, Dogs1
Active substance
Nitenpyram
ATCvet code
QP53BX023
Manufacturer
Marketing authorisation holder: Elanco GmbH

Withdrawal period

No withdrawal period is set for this drug: it is not intended for food-producing animals.3

Summary of product characteristics

Composition

One tablet contains:

Active substance:

Nitenpyram 11.4 mg

Excipient(s):

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

6.1 List of excipients

Microcristalline cellulose

Maize starch

Lactose monohydrate

Anhydrous silica

Magnesium stearate

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Pharmaceutical form

Tablet

White to light yellow, round, biconvex tablets, with bevelled edges, imprinted on one side with “RB”, on the other side with “CG”.

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Pharmacological properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Other ectoparasiticides for systemic use,

ATC Vet Code: QP53BX02

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

The active ingredient, nitenpyram belongs to the chemical class of neonicotinoids which bind and inhibit insect specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Nitenpyram interferes with nerve transmission and leads to the death of adult fleas. Nitenpyram does not inhibit acetylcholinesterase.

Effects on fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) may be seen as soon as 15-30 minutes after administration of the product to the host animal. This coincides with the first blood meal taken by fleas after sufficient blood levels are reached. Between 95% and 100% efficacy is observed within the first 6 hours and 100% efficacy is reached within 24 hours with no residual activity.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic particulars

Nitenpyram is rapidly and to over 90% absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of cats and dogs. Feeding does not affect absorption in dogs. Feeding slightly delays Tmax in cats without affecting the other pharmacokinetic properties and without affecting efficacy. The maximum blood concentration is reached after 0.5 to 2 hours in both fasted target species and the elimination half-life is about 4 hours in dogs and 8 hours in cats. More than 90% is eliminated in the urine within 1 day in dogs and 2 days in cats, mainly as the unchanged molecule.

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Target species

Cats and dogs

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Indications

Treatment of flea infestations (C. felis).

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Dosage

Oral Use.

The minimum effective recommended dose is 1 mg/kg, with the following recommendations:

One tablet should be given to cats and small dogs weighing 1 kg to 11.0 kg when a flea infestation is detected. The frequency of treatment depends on the degree of infestation. In the case of a severe flea infestation, it may be necessary to treat the animals every day or every other day, until the flea infestation is controlled. Treatment may be resumed if fleas reappear. No more than one treatment should be given per day.

Tablets should be given orally, with or without food. In order to improve palatability, tablets can be disguised in a small quantity of food immediately prior to administration.

The veterinary medicinal product does not have persistent activity. To prevent re-infestation, a suitable treatment to control immature stages of the flea life cycle is recommended. The veterinary surgeon should establish an appropriate treatment regime.

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Contraindications

None

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Adverse reactions

Cats and Dogs:

Very rare (<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports): Excessive chewing, licking and/or grooming1, Hyperactivity, Vocalisation1, Neurological signs (e.g., muscle tremor, ataxia, convulsion)1, Panting1, Increased scratching2

1 Transient

2 For the first hour following administration; presumably caused by flea response to the veterinary medicinal product.

Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

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Warnings

(i) Special precautions for use in animals

Do not use on animals less than 4 weeks old or weighing less than 1 kg as these groups of animals were not studied.

(ii) Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals

None.

Special precautions for the protection of the environment:

Not applicable.

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Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Pregnancy:

Can be used during pregnancy.

Lactation:

Can be used during lactation.

Laboratory studies in rats and rabbits have produced no evidence of teratogenic or foetotoxic effects and the safety of the product was demonstrated in pregnant and lactating cats and dogs.

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Interactions

None known. No adverse drug reactions were seen in clinical studies when nitenpyram was administered with other veterinary medicinal products including commonly used flea products, anthelmintics, vaccines or antibiotics.

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Overdose

Nitenpyram is well-tolerated by the target species. Overdoses up to 50 mg/kg in cats and up to 70 mg/kg in dogs were asymptomatic.

Side-effects such as salivation, vomiting, soft stools, seizures, or decreased activity are observed at higher dosages and their seriousness increases as dosages increase. Symptoms disappear quickly and recovery is complete by 24 hours after overdosing because of the rapid elimination of nitenpyram. During 6 months of daily dosing in cats and dogs no clinically significant treatment-related side effects were observed.

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Special warnings

None

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Withdrawal period

Not applicable.

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Incompatibilities

Not applicable.

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Immediate packaging

Cardboard box with 1 polyamide/aluminium/PVC-aluminium blister. Each blister contains 1 tablet.

Cardboard box with 1 or 10 polyamide/aluminium/PVC-aluminium blisters. Each blister contains 6 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

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Storage

Do not store above 25°C

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Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 3 years.

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Disposal of unused product

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater.

Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with national requirements.

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Additional information

8 MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER

Vm 52127/5087

9 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

03 August 2001

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

April 2025

11 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Veterinary medicinal product not subject to prescription.

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Registration holder

Elanco GmbH

Heinz-Lohmann Strasse 4

Groden

D-27472 Cuxhaven

Germany

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Regulations

Sources

  1. VMD Product Information Database: Capstar 11.4 mg Tablets for Cats and Small Dogs, 52127/5087 UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (OGL v3.0), checked 2026-10-02 archived copy from 2026-10-02
  2. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3 (categories of veterinary medicinal products) UK Government, legislation.gov.uk, checked 2026-10-02 archived copy from 2026-10-02
  3. Summary of Product Characteristics: Capstar 11.4 mg Tablets for Cats and Small Dogs UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, SPC of the marketing authorisation holder, checked 2026-10-02 archived copy from 2026-10-02