Piperazine
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Piperazine for pets in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(pi-per-a-zeen)
Description:
This medicine is used to treat parasite worms.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Pipa-Tabs®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- tablets taken by mouth in 50 mg and 250 mg strengths.
- There may also be other products you can buy without a prescription, and products mixed with other ingredients, for different kinds of animals.
- For people:
- none.
This handout does not include every possible detail about this medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace advice from a veterinary professional. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- This is a dewormer used for roundworms. It does not work for many other gut parasites.
- Side effects are not expected in most cases, but dogs and cats could have loose stool, vomiting, poor coordination (for example, stumbling or acting clumsy), or weakness.
How is this medication useful? Piperazine for pets in Perth
Piperazine is used to remove roundworms from the digestive tract (the stomach and intestines) in many types of animals, including dogs and cats.
Piperazine does not work for many other kinds of intestinal parasites. It should not be used for parasites other than roundworms.
In some situations, veterinarians may prescribe products with this medicine for other animal species or for other health problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the following so you can make treatment choices together.
- Some medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share the dose amount and the time you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has been treated for the same problem in the past, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine with your veterinarian.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine reactions your animal has had, including allergy-type reactions, not wanting to eat, loose stool, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
This medicine should begin to work within 1 to 2 days. You will not be able to see the medicine working just by looking at your animal.
Your veterinarian will need to do additional tests to confirm whether the medicine is working as it should.
This medicine does not last long in the body. Its action stops within about 24 hours. However, the helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any specific concerns for your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
- That are allergic to it.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in:
- If your animal has any of these conditions, talk to your veterinarian about weighing the possible risks and benefits.
- With long-term liver or kidney disease.
- That have bowel problems such as ongoing constipation.
- Animals that have a seizure disorder (for example, epilepsy).
- Horses that have a very large number of roundworms, because a blockage in the intestines and tearing of the intestine can happen.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Common but usually not serious side effects include:
- Dogs & Cats:
- When dogs and cats receive the recommended dose, side effects are not common. However, loose stool, vomiting, and acting unsteady or clumsy can occur. If these happen, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Horses and foals:
- When given at the recommended dose, side effects are not common, but softer stool may occur.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
- If you see any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Dogs & Cats:
- weakness, difficulty breathing, muscle twitching, unsteady back legs, a lot of drooling, acting very down or dull, dehydration, pressing the head against objects, and changes in the eyes and pupils.
- Horses and foals:
- signs of belly pain (colic), such as kicking at the belly or rolling, and low energy.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Too much piperazine can cause severe problems. If you see or think an overdose has happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
To make sure this medicine works, give it exactly the way your veterinarian instructed. It is also wise to read the prescription label each time so you give it correctly.
- You may give this medicine with food or without food. If your animal vomits or seems unwell after getting it on an empty stomach, give the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- In small animals, a second dose is commonly given again 2 to 3 weeks after the first dose.
- If you are using a liquid form, measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or syringes.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist for ways to make dosing easier and to reduce stress during medicine time.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it.
- You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished.
- Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian, because there may be important reasons to keep using it.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed one. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time.
- Then continue with the normal schedule.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in an approved pill organizer, at room temperature and away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom-made version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine.
- Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet or pour it into a sink.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks. Then place the bag in the household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Do not give laxatives with piperazine, because they may cause the medicine to leave the body before it has time to work fully.
- This medicine may be prohibited in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”