Maropitant (Cerenia®) for Dogs: Canine Antiemetic

Did you know that 48% of dogs suffer from motion sickness? This is a big problem for pet owners and vets. Luckily, Maropitant citrate, known as Cerenia®, is here to help. It’s a top choice for stopping vomiting and nausea in dogs¹. Vets pick it as their go-to for motion sickness in dogs².

Cerenia is a big deal in the world of dog anti-vomiting medication, canine nausea prevention, and pet motion sickness treatment.

Key Takeaways

• Maropitant citrate (Cerenia®) is an antiemetic medication used to treat vomiting and motion sickness in dogs and cats.
• Cerenia is the #1 choice among veterinarians for preventing vomiting due to motion sickness in dogs.
• Cerenia injectable is the first FDA-approved treatment for vomiting in cats.
• Common side effects of Cerenia in dogs include vomiting, hypersalivation, anorexia, depression/lethargy, and diarrhea.
• Cerenia is available as tablets or an injectable solution and can be prescribed for both acute vomiting and motion sickness prevention in dogs.

What is Maropitant (Cerenia®)?

Maropitant citrate is the key ingredient in Cerenia®, a drug for dogs and cats. It helps treat nausea and stops motion sickness³. The FDA approved it for dogs in 2007 and for cats in 2012³.

Drug Description and Chemical Structure

Maropitant citrate has the formula C32H40N2O C6H8O7 H2O and weighs 678.81⁴. Its full name is (2S,3S)-2-benzhydryl-N-(5-tert-butyl-2-methoxybenzyl) quinuclidin-3-amine citrate monohydrate.

Mechanism of Action as an Antiemetic

Maropitant blocks the NK1 receptor, stopping substance P from causing vomiting⁴. This action stops vomiting from happening in the brain and elsewhere⁴.

In March 2023, the FDA approved a generic version of maropitant citrate for dogs³.

Cerenia (maropitant citrate) is used to treat nausea and prevent motion sickness in dogs³. It’s given in higher doses for sudden vomiting from motion sickness³.

“Maropitant acts as a neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonist, blocking the binding of substance P, a key neurotransmitter involved in the vomiting reflex.”

Indications for Use in Dogs

Maropitant (Cerenia®) Tablets help prevent acute vomiting and motion sickness in dogs⁵. They can also control vomiting from many causes, like chemotherapy or toxin ingestion³.

Cerenia® (Maropitant) is FDA-approved for dogs with motion sickness⁵. It works by stopping the vomiting center in the brain⁵. But, it’s not for puppies under 2 months for vomiting or under 4 months for motion sickness⁵.

Cerenia treats more than just motion sickness in dogs³. It helps with kidney and liver disease, pancreatitis, and more³. The dose depends on the dog’s weight and the issue, usually 1 mg/kg for injections or 2 mg/kg for tablets³.

You can give Cerenia every 24 hours, but not for more than five days for vomiting³. Giving too much Cerenia can happen, but it’s usually not serious and can be treated³.

In summary, Maropitant (Cerenia®) is a key anti-emetic for dogs. It prevents vomiting from many causes, including motion sickness, stomach issues, and chemotherapy side effects⁵³.

Dosage and Administration Guidelines

Maropitant (Cerenia®) is a top antiemetic for dogs. It has clear guidelines for dosage to prevent vomiting⁶. For acute vomiting, give maropitant tablets to dogs 16 weeks and older. Use a minimum of 2 mg/kg (0.9 mg/lb) body weight, once a day for up to 5 days⁶. These tablets work for about 24 hours after taking them⁶.

Dosing for Prevention of Motion Sickness

To stop vomiting from motion sickness, use maropitant tablets at a dose of 8 mg/kg (3.6 mg/lb) body weight. Give it once a day for up to 2 days⁶. Cerenia tablets help for at least 12 hours, so you can take it the night before a trip⁶. Make sure your dog eats a little before taking Cerenia to prevent motion sickness⁶. Don’t wrap the tablets in food to make sure they work fast⁶.

Some dogs might need less maropitant because of how their bodies work. Always talk to a vet before giving it to make sure it’s right for your dog⁷.

Warnings and Precautions

Safety for Humans Handling the Medication

Maropitant citrate is only for pets and should be kept away from kids⁸. Touching the medication can cause skin allergies in some people, so be careful⁸. After using Cerenia®, wash your hands well with soap and water⁸. Also, maropitant can irritate your eyes, so avoid getting it in them⁸. If it does get in your eyes, rinse with water for 15 minutes and see a doctor⁸.

• Maropitant citrate is for veterinary use only and should be kept out of reach of children.
• Topical exposure may cause allergic skin reactions in some people, so caution should be used when handling the medication.
• Individuals administering maropitant should wash their hands with soap and water after use.
• Maropitant is an ocular irritant, so care should be taken to avoid getting it in the eyes.
• In case of accidental eye exposure, the eyes should be flushed with water for 15 minutes and medical attention should be sought.

Tell the authorities about any bad reactions to Cerenia® for safety checks⁸.

“Reporting adverse events related to the product is important for continuous safety monitoring and should be reported to the appropriate authorities.”

Potential Side Effects in Dogs

Using maropitant (Cerenia®) in dogs may lead to some side effects⁹. Common issues include vomiting, drooling a lot, and reactions at the injection site⁹. Some dogs might also feel tired, eat less, have diarrhea, allergic reactions, walk funny, or even have seizures⁹.

In dogs under 11 weeks, maropitant can affect their bone marrow⁹. So, it’s best to use it carefully with young puppies⁹.

Cerenia comes in tablets and an injectable form, with different sizes⁹. Studies show it can help with vomiting for up to 23 hours after chemo without problems⁹. It’s used to prevent motion sickness in dogs over four months old, given before travel⁹. Giving it before surgery with opioids can make the surgery safer⁹.

Don’t give Cerenia to dogs with blockages in their stomach, those who ate something toxic, or puppies under 11 weeks⁹. Also, don’t mix it with certain drugs like valproic acid or some painkillers⁹.

Cerenia might cause depression, tiredness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, clumsiness, shaking, fever, shortness of breath, falling over, feeling sleepy, or seizures in some dogs⁹.

Watch your dog closely for any bad reactions and talk to your vet if you’re worried about Cerenia¹⁰. Knowing the possible side effects helps you use this medicine safely for your dog¹¹⁹¹⁰.

Maropitant (Cerenia®) for Dogs: Canine Antiemetic

Maropitant, known as Cerenia®, is a top choice for dogs to stop vomiting from many causes¹². It works by blocking certain receptors in the brain, stopping the vomiting reflex¹².

This medicine also helps with mild pain, anxiety, and swelling¹². You can give it as an injection or a pill. The shot is for sudden vomiting, while the pill helps prevent it from happening¹².

1. Maropitant is great for dogs with vomiting from many issues, like food poisoning, chemo, or kidney problems¹².
2. It works as well as or better than other medicines for vomiting¹².
3. It’s also used for severe bronchitis and in surgeries to reduce the need for anesthesia¹².

Maropitant is usually safe, but be careful with it in some cases¹². Don’t use it if your dog has a blockage in their stomach or has eaten something bad. Also, avoid it if your dog’s liver isn’t working right¹².

Side effects can include a lot of drool, diarrhea, not wanting to eat, and vomiting¹².

“Maropitant has a high specificity for its target and does not bind to other receptors in the central nervous system, making it safer than other antiemetics in veterinary medicine.”¹²

Maropitant is a key tool for vets, offering a safe way to stop vomiting in dogs¹². Its special way of working and focused effects make it a top pick for many vets¹².

Cerenia Tablets (maropitant citrate) cost $23.48¹³. They’re for dogs over 8 weeks old. You can give them 2 mg/kg once a day for up to 5 days to prevent vomiting, or 8 mg/kg once a day for up to 2 days for motion sickness¹³.

Don’t use Cerenia Tablets on dogs for breeding, pregnant or nursing moms, or those with stomach blockages or toxin ingestion¹³. It’s not tested on dogs with liver problems¹³. In the US, only vets can buy Cerenia¹³.

Cerenia is a go-to for treating vomiting in dogs and cats¹⁴. It helps with motion sickness, anesthesia side effects, and some medicines¹⁴. At low doses, it’s usually safe for dogs, but watch out for vomiting, too much drool, pain, swelling, and infections at the injection site¹⁴.

Use Cerenia with care in dogs with liver issues and avoid it if there’s a stomach blockage or toxin ingestion¹⁴. It’s not tested on pregnant or nursing dogs, or dogs under 4 months¹⁴. If your dog takes too much Cerenia, call your vet right away¹⁴¹²¹³.

Drug Interactions and Monitoring

When giving maropitant (Cerenia®) to dogs, vets should watch for drug interactions. Some medicines, like chloramphenicol and NSAIDs, might change how maropitant works¹⁵. It’s key for vets to know all the meds the dog is on before giving maropitant.

No special checks are needed for dogs on maropitant, but vets might watch them to make sure it’s helping¹⁵. For dogs 2 to 7 months old, give Cerenia at 0.9 mg per pound daily for 5 days¹⁵. Dogs 7 months and up get the same dose, but until they stop vomiting¹⁵. For motion sickness in dogs 4 months and older, use 3.6 mg per pound once a day for 2 days¹⁵.

Studies show maropitant works better than metoclopramide for ongoing vomiting, with 97% of dogs stopping to vomit¹⁵. For motion sickness, it cut vomiting by 86.1% before car travel and 76.5% 10 hours before¹⁵.

Cerenia can interact with many drugs, including NSAIDs and seizure meds¹⁵. Dogs allergic to maropitant citrate can’t take Cerenia. Use it carefully in dogs with heart or liver issues, pregnant or nursing dogs, and those with health problems¹⁵.

Cerenia tablets have maropitant, an anti-vomiting drug¹⁶. It reaches its highest level in the blood a few hours after use and is mostly cleared by the liver¹⁶. Side effects might include sleepiness, less hunger, diarrhea, allergies, and drooling¹⁶.

Cerenia injection can be given for up to 5 days, and tablets for up to 14 days¹⁶. Don’t use it long-term, and avoid overusing it as the drug guide suggests¹⁶. Also, don’t give it to pregnant or nursing dogs because it’s not safe for them¹⁶.

Don’t mix Cerenia with Ca-channel blockers because it might affect its action¹⁶. If you miss a dose, talk to your vet. Don’t give your pet two doses at once¹⁶. If your pet has side effects, stop the drug and see a vet¹⁶.

Research has looked into how maropitant affects dogs under anesthesia and with motion sickness¹⁷. Studies have also looked into its effects on the spinal cord of rats and its role in anesthesia¹⁷¹⁵¹⁶.

Pharmacokinetics of Maropitant

Maropitant is the key ingredient in Cerenia®, a vet anti-nausea drug for dogs. Studies show how it moves through the dog’s body. This includes how it gets absorbed, spread out, and cleared.

Bioavailability and Metabolism

Maropitant works better when given under the skin than by mouth. At 1 mg/kg under the skin, it’s 90.7% effective¹⁸. But, it’s only 23.7% effective by mouth at 2 mg/kg and 37% at 8 mg/kg¹⁸. This big difference is because of the liver breaking it down first.

In cats, maropitant works even better, with 117% effectiveness under the skin and 50% by mouth¹⁸. It sticks to proteins in the blood very well, over 99%¹⁸.

Maropitant leaves the body in about 7.75 hours after under-the-skin shots at 1 mg/kg in dogs¹⁸. After a single pill at 2 mg/kg, it lasts 4.03 hours¹⁸. It clears out faster at higher doses, which can build up in the body¹⁸¹⁹.

Maropitant is great for fighting nausea in dogs because it’s absorbed well under the skin and doesn’t stay in the body too long. But, it’s not as good by mouth and can act differently at higher doses¹⁹.

“The pharmacokinetic properties of maropitant, including its high subcutaneous bioavailability and dose-dependent clearance, contribute to its effectiveness as an antiemetic in canine patients.”

Effectiveness Studies

Studies have shown that maropitant, also known as Cerenia®, is great at stopping vomiting in dogs²⁰. In lab tests, giving dogs at least 2 mg of maropitant per kilogram of body weight cut down vomiting a lot. This was true for both kinds of vomiting: from the brain and from the stomach²⁰.

Only 33% of dogs given maropitant threw up, compared to all dogs on placebo for brain-induced vomiting. For stomach-induced vomiting, 33% of dogs on maropitant threw up, while 83% of dogs on placebo did²⁰.

Prevention of Acute Vomiting

Maropitant is really good at stopping dogs from vomiting. In a study, only 10% of dogs on maropitant threw up, compared to 61% of control dogs and 54% of dogs on ondansetron²¹. Also, fewer dogs on maropitant looked nauseous, at just 10%, compared to 87% of control dogs and 50% of dogs on ondansetron²¹.

Maropitant also made dogs less likely to have bad side effects like drooling a lot, licking their lips, swallowing hard, and hunching over. These effects were much worse in control dogs²¹. Dogs on ondansetron had more retching than those on maropitant²¹.

Maropitant is also great at stopping vomiting from motion sickness in dogs. In one study, it cut down vomiting by 86.1% or 76.5% before travel, depending on when it was given²⁰. This was proven in clinical trials, showing ondansetron doesn’t work as well²⁰.

Many studies confirm that maropitant is a top-notch anti-nausea drug for dogs. It greatly reduces vomiting and nausea in different situations, like from motion sickness or from opioids²⁰²¹²².

“Maropitant has been shown to be a potent and reliable antiemetic, providing superior protection against vomiting and nausea in dogs compared to other commonly used medications.”

Product Information and Availability

Maropitant citrate, known as Cerenia®, is a key antiemetic for dogs. It comes in strengths like 16 mg, 24 mg, 60 mg, and 160 mg. These sizes help dogs of different weights and sizes²³. The FDA has approved Cerenia® for preventing vomiting and motion sickness in dogs over 8 weeks old²³.

You can only get Cerenia® with a vet’s prescription. This is because vets know best if it’s right for your dog’s health²⁴. Each pack has four tablets, making it easy for owners to give to their pets²³.

To buy Cerenia®, you need a vet’s prescription²⁴. This makes sure the medicine is used right and with a vet’s advice. Even though you can’t buy it over the counter, some online stores sell it with a vet’s prescription²⁴.

Cerenia® is key for treating dog vomiting and motion sickness. But, it should only be given by a vet. Knowing you need a prescription helps pet owners and vets work together for the best care²³²⁵²⁴.

Conclusion

Maropitant (Cerenia®) is a key antiemetic for dogs, helping vets manage vomiting. It works by blocking the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor and stopping the vomiting reflex. This makes it great for preventing vomiting, motion sickness, and other stomach issues²².

Studies show maropitant is well-absorbed in dogs when given under the skin, but not as much when taken by mouth²². In cats, it stays in the body longer and works better when given under the skin than by mouth²². It also helps reduce the need for anesthesia in cats and dogs²².

Maropitant has been shown to be very effective in clinical trials. It greatly cuts down on vomiting and nausea in dogs. It also reduces symptoms like drooling, tongue licking, and hunched back²¹. So, maropitant (Cerenia®) is a must-have for vets in the U.S. when dealing with vomiting and motion sickness in dogs.

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