Capstar (nitenpyram) Flea Tablets for Dogs and Cats

Update 2/23/12: Capstar is back in stock!

Why has my veterinarian prescribed Capstar Tablets?

"Nitenpyram may be combined with other medications as part of a comprehensive flea-control program."

Nitenpyram is used to treat flea infestations on dogs, puppies, cats and kittens older than 4 weeks of age and greater than 1 kg (2.2 lbs) in body weight.  This medication kills adult fleas.  It is not effective against flea eggs.  Nitenpyram may be combined with other medications as part of a comprehensive flea-control program.

  

How do I give Capstar Tablets?

• Give this medication to your pet as directed by your veterinarian. READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY.
• DO NOT give more medication than directed or more often than directed.
• Nitenpyram may be placed directly into the pet's mouth or hidden in the food. If you hide the pill in the food, make sure the pet has swallowed the pill. If you are not sure if the pet swallowed the pill, it is safe to give a second pill.
• Wash hands with soap and water after handling the medication. 

What if I miss giving a dose?

Nitenpyram is used as needed, as often as once per day, whenever you see fleas on your pet.

 

How do I store Capstar Tablets?

• Keep this medicine out of reach of children.
• Store this medicine at room temperature. Store away from heat and direct sunlight.
• Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink or in damp places. The medicine may break down if exposed to heat or moisture.

 

What are the potential side effects?

• The dog or cat may start scratching itself as fleas begin to die. This is a temporary effect.
• If you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian.

 

Are there any possible drug interactions?

• Make sure to tell your veterinarian what other medication you are giving to your pet.
• Quite often, your veterinarian may prescribe two different medications, and sometimes a drug interaction may occur. In this case, your veterinarian may vary the dose and/or monitor your pet more closely.
• Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences any unusual reactions when different medications are given together.
• Nitenpyram may be used with heartworm preventives, corticosteroids, antibiotics, vaccines, deworming medications, shampoos and other flea products.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published. However, it remains the responsibility of the readers to familiarize themselves with the product information contained on the USA product label or package insert.

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CAPSTAR®

Novartis

(nitenpyram)

CAPSTAR^® is an oral tablet for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens 4 weeks of age and older and 2 pounds of body weight or greater.

Active Ingredients

CAPSTAR Tablets contain 11.4 or 57.0 mg of nitenpyram, which belongs to the chemical class of neonicotinoids. Nitenpyram kills adult fleas.

Warnings

Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of the reach of children.

Directions

CAPSTAR Tablets kill adult fleas and are indicated for the treatment of flea infestations on dogs, puppies, cats and kittens 4 weeks of age and older and 2 pounds of body weight or greater.

A single dose of CAPSTAR should kill the adult fleas on your pet. If your pet gets re-infested with fleas, you can safely give another dose as often as once per day.

To give CAPSTAR Tablets, place the pill directly in your pet’s mouth or hide it in food. If you hide the pill in food, watch closely to make sure your pet swallows the pill. If you are not sure that your pet swallowed the pill, it is safe to give a second pill.

Treat all infested pets in the household. Fleas can reproduce on untreated pets and allow infestations to persist.

Dosage

CAPSTAR Tablets should be administered according to the following schedule. Weigh your pet prior to administration to ensure proper dosage. Do not administer to pets under 2 pounds.

Recommended Dosage Schedule
Species	Body Weight	Dose	Nitenpyram Per Tablet
Dog or Cat	2-25 lbs.	One tablet	11.4 mg
Dog	25.1-125 lbs.	One tablet	57.0 mg

*Please see separate insert in this package for concurrent dosing of CAPSTAR Tablets and PROGRAM^® (lufenuron) Flavor Tabs^®.

Adverse Reactions

Laboratory and clinical studies showed that CAPSTAR Tablets are safe for use in dogs and cats, puppies and kittens 4 weeks of age and older and 2 pounds of body weight or greater.

Other Information

CAPSTAR Tablets begin working within 30 minutes. In studies, CAPSTAR achieved greater than 90% effectiveness against adult fleas on dogs within 4 hours and cats within 6 hours.

CAPSTAR Tablets are safe for pregnant or nursing dogs and cats.

When using this product, you may notice that your dog or cat will start scratching itself as fleas begin to die. The scratching behavior is temporary and is a reaction to the fleas, not the drug. In very rare cases in cats, this may present as transient signs of hyperactivity, panting, vocalization and excessive grooming.

CAPSTAR Tablets kill adult fleas that cause flea allergy dermatitis (FAD).

CAPSTAR Tablets may be used together with other products, including heartworm preventives, corticosteroids, antibiotics, vaccines, de-worming medications, shampoos and other flea products.

Flea Infestations on Dogs and Cats

In addition to the common nuisance irritations associated with infestations, fleas can be responsible for skin conditions in your pet such as flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) in the dog and miliary dermatitis in the cat. Also, fleas transmit other parasites, including tapeworms. The control of flea infestations is important to your pet’s health and also reduces the problems associated with these parasites.

CAPSTAR Tablets do not have an effect on fleas in the pet’s environment. You may need to treat more than one time because immature fleas in and around the home will continue to develop into adults that can reinfest your pet.

In addition to killing adult fleas with CAPSTAR, you can treat your pet with an insect development inhibitor like PROGRAM Flavor Tabs to prevent and control flea populations. Please see the separate PROGRAM Flavor Tabs/CAPSTAR Tablets FLEA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM insert included in this package for information on how to use these two products together to kill adult fleas and prevent flea eggs from hatching. For information on how to use SENTINEL^® (milbemycin oxime/lufenuron) Flavor Tabs^® (for dogs only) with CAPSTAR Tablets, see your veterinarian.

The following diagram illustrates the flea’s life cycle and where CAPSTAR Tablets work:

Life Cycle of the Flea

Fleas can be a problem because they reproduce so rapidly. A single female flea may produce up to 2,000 eggs over her lifetime. Eggs hatch and can develop into adults within only three weeks. Adult female fleas feed by ingesting blood from your pet and subsequently lay eggs, which drop off your pet’s coat. Within days, larvae hatch from the eggs and live undetected in your pet’s surroundings, such as the carpet, bedding and other protected areas. Flea larvae spin a cocoon, and, when appropriately stimulated, a young adult flea emerges and jumps onto your pet to continue the life cycle. When these new fleas are seen on your pet, treat with CAPSTAR Tablets.

After reading this insert, if you have any questions about flea control or medical problems associated with flea infestations, consult your veterinarian, who is your pet’s health care expert.

Storage Conditions

Store at controlled room temperature, between 59° and 77°F (15°-25°C).

PROGRAM^® (LUFENURON) Flavor Tabs^® / Capstar^® (nitenpyram) FLEA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Supplemental Product Information

Information for Dosing Dogs

This insert describes the concurrent use of PROGRAM^® (lufenuron) Flavor Tabs^® and CAPSTAR^® (nitenpyram) Tablets for the management of fleas on dogs and puppies. Please read the insert contained in each package for complete information on the individual products prior to dosing.

Warnings

Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children.

Directions

In dogs and puppies the concurrent use of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets is indicated to kill adult fleas and prevent eggs from hatching. The effects of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs, which prevent and control flea populations, and CAPSTAR Tablets, which treat flea infestations, are combined to provide a FLEA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

Step 1: Prevention and Control

Give PROGRAM Flavor Tabs once per month to prevent and control flea populations. PROGRAM Flavor Tabs contain lufenuron. Lufenuron controls flea populations by preventing the development of flea eggs and does not kill adult fleas. If a dog currently has a flea infestation, more rapid relief can be accomplished by adding CAPSTAR to the treatment as follows.

Step 2: Kill Adult Fleas

If your pet currently has a flea infestation, use CAPSTAR Tablets to kill adult fleas. CAPSTAR Tablets contain nitenpyram and are effective for the treatment of flea infestations. Nitenpyram starts killing adult fleas within 30 minutes of administration.

- Administer CAPSTAR Tablets once per week until adult fleas are no longer observed.

- For a severe flea infestation, administer CAPSTAR Tablets twice per week until adult fleas are no longer observed.

- Additional CAPSTAR Tablets may be administered as needed to kill the occasional adult flea picked up from infested environments.

- It is important to treat all cats (see below) and dogs in the household. Fleas can reproduce on untreated pets and allow infestations to persist.

Dosage

The combination of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets should be administered according to the following schedule. Weigh the dog prior to administration to ensure proper dosage. Do not administer to dogs under 2 pounds.

Recommended Dosage Schedule

Body Weight	Dose	CAPSTAR Once or twice weekly* (Nitenpyram per tablet)	PROGRAM Flavor Tabs once per month (Lufenuron per tablet)
2 to 10 lbs.	One tablet	11.4 mg	45.0 mg
11 to 20 lbs.	One tablet	11.4 mg	90.0 mg
21 to 25 lbs.	One tablet	11.4 mg	204.9 mg
26 to 45 lbs.	One tablet	57.0 mg	204.9 mg
46 to 90 lbs.	One tablet	57.0 mg	409.8 mg
91 to 125 lbs.	One tablet	57.0 mg	**

* If adult fleas are seen

** Dogs over 90 lbs. are provided the appropriate combination of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs.

Adverse Reactions

The following adverse reactions have been reported in dogs after giving PROGRAM Flavor Tabs: vomiting, depression/lethargy, pruritus (itchy, scratchy skin), urticaria (wheals, hives), diarrhea, anorexia (loss of appetite), and skin congestion (red skin).

Other Information

The safety of the concurrent use of lufenuron, the active ingredient in PROGRAM Flavor Tabs, and CAPSTAR Tablets has not been evaluated in puppies less than 11 weeks old.

Flea Infestations on Dogs

In addition to the common nuisance irritations associated with infestations, fleas can be responsible for skin conditions in the dog such as flea allergy dermatitis. Fleas also transmit other parasites, including tapeworms. The control of flea infestations is important to the pet’s health and reduces the problems associated with these parasites.

PROGRAM Flavor Tabs break the flea life cycle by inhibiting egg development. CAPSTAR Tablets kill adult fleas on the dog. The concurrent use of these two products provides an effective flea management system.

The following diagram illustrates the flea’s life cycle and where the combination of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets work:

Life Cycle of the Flea

A single female flea may produce up to 2,000 eggs over her lifetime. Eggs hatch and can develop into adults within only three weeks. Adult female fleas feed by ingesting blood from the pet and subsequently lay eggs, which drop off the pet’s coat. Within days, larvae hatch from the eggs and live undetected in the pet’s surroundings, such as the carpet and bedding. Flea larvae spin a cocoon, and, when appropriately stimulated, a young adult flea emerges and jumps onto the pet to continue the life cycle.

After reading this insert, if you have any questions about the concurrent use of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets in your dogs, please call Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. Veterinary Product Support at 1(800)-332-2761.

Storage Conditions

Store PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR as described on the individual product inserts.

Information for Dosing Cats

This insert describes the concurrent use of PROGRAM^® (lufenuron) Flavor Tabs^® and CAPSTAR^® (nitenpyram) Tablets for the management of fleas on cats and kittens. Please read the insert contained in each package for complete information on the individual products prior to dosing.

Warnings

Not for human use. Keep this and all drugs out of reach of children.

Directions

In cats and kittens the concurrent use of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets is indicated to kill adult fleas and prevent eggs from hatching. The effects of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs, which control flea populations, and CAPSTAR Tablets, which treat flea infestations, are combined to provide a FLEA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

Step 1: Prevention and Control

Give PROGRAM Flavor Tabs once per month to control flea populations. PROGRAM Flavor Tabs contain lufenuron. Lufenuron controls flea populations by preventing the development of flea eggs and does not kill adult fleas. If a cat currently has a flea infestation, more rapid relief can be accomplished by adding CAPSTAR to the treatment as follows.

Step 2: Kill Adult Fleas

If your pet currently has a flea infestation, use CAPSTAR Tablets to kill adult fleas. CAPSTAR Tablets contain nitenpyram and are effective for the treatment of flea infestations. Nitenpyram starts killing adult fleas within 30 minutes of administration.

- Administer CAPSTAR Tablets once per week until adult fleas are no longer observed.

- For a severe flea infestation, administer CAPSTAR Tablets twice per week until adult fleas are no longer observed.

- Additional CAPSTAR Tablets may be administered as needed to kill the occasional adult flea picked up from infested environments.

- It is important to treat all dogs (see below) and cats in the household. Fleas can reproduce on untreated pets and allow infestations to persist.

Dosage

The combination of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets should be administered according to the following schedule. Weigh the cat prior to administration to ensure proper dosage. Do not administer to cats under 2 pounds.

Recommended Dosage Schedule

Body Weight	Dose	CAPSTAR Once or twice weekly* (Nitenpyram per tablet)	PROGRAM Flavor Tabs once per month (Lufenuron per tablet)
2 to 6 lbs.	One tablet	11.4 mg	90 mg
7 to 15 lbs.	One tablet	11.4 mg	204.9 mg
16 to 25 lbs.	One tablet	11.4 mg	**

* If adult fleas are seen

** Cats over 15 lbs. are provided the appropriate combination of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs.

Adverse Reactions

The following adverse reactions have been reported in cats after giving PROGRAM Flavor Tabs: vomiting, depression/lethargy, anorexia (loss of appetite), diarrhea, hyperactivity, dyspnea (labored breathing), pruritus (itchy skin) and skin eruptions (rash).

Other Information

The safety of the concurrent use of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets has not been evaluated in kittens less than 7 months of age.

Flea Infestations on Cats

In addition to the common nuisance irritations associated with infestations, fleas can be responsible for skin conditions in the cat such as miliary dermatitis. Fleas also transmit other parasites, including tapeworms. The control of flea infestations is important to the pet’s health and reduces the problems associated with these parasites.

PROGRAM Flavor Tabs break the flea life cycle by inhibiting egg development. CAPSTAR Tablets rapidly kill adult fleas on the cat. The concurrent use of these two products provides an effective flea management system.

The following diagram illustrates the flea’s life cycle and where the combination of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets work:

Life Cycle of the Flea

A single female flea may produce up to 2,000 eggs over her lifetime. Eggs hatch and can develop into adults within only three weeks. Adult female fleas feed by ingesting blood from the pet and subsequently lay eggs, which drop off the pet’s coat. Within days, larvae hatch from the eggs and live undetected in the pet’s surroundings, such as the carpet and bedding. Flea larvae spin a cocoon, and, when appropriately stimulated, a young adult flea emerges and jumps onto the pet to continue the life cycle.

After reading this insert, if you have any questions about the concurrent use of PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR Tablets in your cats, please call Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. Veterinary Product Support at 1(800)-332-2761.

Storage Conditions

Store PROGRAM Flavor Tabs and CAPSTAR as described on the individual product inserts.

Questions? Comments?

Please Call 1-800-332-2761

Visit our website at www.capstarpet.com

Manufactured for: Novartis Animal Health US, Inc., Greensboro, NC 27408

NADA #141-175, Approved by FDA.

NADA #141-205, Approved by FDA.

U.S. Patent # 5,750,548

©2010 Novartis Animal Health US, Inc.

CAPSTAR, PROGRAM, SENTINEL and Flavor Tabs are registered trademarks of Novartis AG.

NAH/CAP-FMS/PI/4

05/10