Pyrantel Pamoate
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Pyrantel Pamoate during a consultation by Dr Noor in Perth.”
Pyrantel Pamoate (Horses)
(pi-ran-tel pam-oh-ate)
Description:
This medicine is used to treat parasites.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Strongid T®
Common Dosage Forms:
For animals:
- Oral paste: Pyrantel 23.6 grams/20 mL (180 mg/mL) in an oral syringe;
- Oral liquid (suspension): 50 mg/mL.
For people:
- There are no human products that are suitable for horses.
This handout does not include every detail that exists about this medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace advice from a medical professional. If you still have questions or want more details about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- If you are using the liquid (suspension) form, shake the bottle well each time before you give a dose, and keep it out of sunlight.
- This medicine most often does not cause side effects.
How is this medication useful?
Pyrantel pamoate is approved for horses and ponies to remove and control infections caused by adult small and large strongyles, pinworms, and large roundworms.
Parasites can become harder to treat over time because they can develop resistance. Ask your veterinarian for help with finding out what parasites are present, choosing treatment, and planning parasite control for your animal. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best choice.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Make sure you talk with your veterinarian about the following so you can decide together on the best plan.
- Other medicines may affect how this medicine works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also include how much you give and when 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 before for the same problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it worked well or did not work.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any medicine-related problems your animal has had in the past, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, loose stool (diarrhea), 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 act within 1 to 2 hours. Even so, you will not be able to see the results just by looking at your animal. Your veterinarian will need to do additional tests to check whether the medicine is working as it should.
This medicine does not last long in the body. Its action ends within 24 hours. However, the helpful results may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well as normal.
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 concerns that apply to your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in horses:
- That are allergic to it.
- That are to be used for human consumption.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in horses:
- That are old, weak, or frail.
If your animal has any of these situations, talk with your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
What are the side effects of this medication?
When pyrantel pamoate is given to horses exactly as the label directs, it usually does not cause side effects. If you are worried about your animal after giving this medicine, contact your veterinarian.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think one may have happened, contact your veterinarian right away or call an animal poison control service for guidance. These services are available 24 hours a day. A consultation fee will be charged.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work correctly, you must give it exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed it. It is also smart to read the prescription label or the package label each time so you confirm you are giving it the right way.
When using the oral paste:
- The dosing syringe has 4 weight-mark sections. Each mark stands for the recommended dose for 300 lb of body weight. Figure out how much paste your horse needs by rounding your horse’s weight up to the nearest mark. Use the screw-gauge on the syringe to set (“dial in”) the amount to give.
- After you take off the cap, place the paste onto the back of your horse’s tongue. Many horses will take it if you put the tip of the syringe into the corner of the mouth, aim the syringe toward the back of the mouth, and push the plunger so the paste goes onto the tongue. Lifting your horse’s head can sometimes make swallowing easier.
- If your horse’s dose uses only part of the paste in the syringe, put the cap back on the syringe tip and store it as directed until the next time you need to dose.
When using the oral liquid suspension:
Shake the product very well before every dose.
Keep the medicine (by itself or after mixing it with water) out of direct sunlight.
You can give it using:
- a stomach tube,
- a dosing syringe, or
- by mixing it into feed.
Stomach Tube:
- Measure the correct amount of the liquid suspension and mix it with the amount of water you want. Give it right after mixing. Do not try to save any suspension that has been diluted.
Dose Syringe:
- Pull the correct amount of suspension into the dosing syringe and give it.
Feed:
- Mix the correct amount of suspension into the usual grain ration. Your horse does not need to fast before or after treatment.
Liquid forms must be measured with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or syringes.
If it is hard to get your horse to take the medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on how to give it and how to make dosing less stressful.
This medicine may be prescribed for different time periods. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving 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. Then wait the usual amount of time between doses that your veterinarian recommended before giving the next one. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in its original container, at room temperature, and away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist has prepared a custom-made (compounded) version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date that come with 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 safety steps are needed when handling this medicine unless you are allergic to it. After you handle any medicine, wash your hands.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain. If your community has a medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not easy for people to recognize if they search through trash. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it cannot leak, and then throw the bag into your regular 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?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while this medicine is being given.
- 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.”