Capstar Reviews
CAPSTAR REVIEWS
Capstar is an oral flea control tablet manufactured by the Novartis Animal Health Company. Novartis Animal Health is a division of the larger Novartis Company, which is based out of Basel, Switzerland. According to Revenue data from 2008, Novartis is the current leader in pharmaceutical revenues worldwide. The Novartis Company was first created in 1996, when Ciba-Geigy (founded in 1970 by a prior merger) and Sandoz Laboratories (founded in 1886) were merged. The Novartis Company currently has three sub-divisions, which each specialize in a specific area of health care. These divisions are Pharmaceutials, Consumer Health (Over-The-Counter) and Animal Health.
In addition to this, the Novartis Company is also involved in research and development in several different areas of healthcare treatment. Novartis has recently been targeted as being associated with the controversial Huntingdon Life Sciences, which is cited by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) as being a company involved in cruel animal testing. However, information regarding the association is relatively inconclusive, and has mostly been kept from circulation by the public media.
 Capstar for Dogs Over 25-lbs Price: $31.19 Seller: National Pet Pharmacy  |  Capstar for Small Dogs and Cats 2-25-lbs Price: $270.39 Seller: National Pet Pharmacy |  Capstar for Small Dogs and Cats 2-25-lbs Price: $25.99 Seller: National Pet Pharmacy |
 Capstar Dog 26-125 lbs. Tablets 6 Pack Price: $30.50 Seller: US Pets |  Capstar Dog/Cat 2-25 lbs. Tablets 6 Pack Price: $28.50 Seller: US Pets |  CAPSTAR Green FAST ACTING for Dogs Over 25 lbs. (60 Tabs) Price: $305.99 Seller: EntirelyPets |
ACTIVE INGREDIENT
The primary active ingredient in Capstar oral tablets is Nitenpyram, which is an insecticide. Nitenpyram is widely used for the eradication of external parasites, both in livestock and domesticated pets. Nitenpyram only takes approximately thirty minutes to become active, and is marketed as being why Capstar “kills all adult fleas” in only thirty minutes. According to veterinary studies, nitenpyram is safe to use on cats, dogs, puppies and kittens as young as four weeks old, so long as they weigh at least two pounds. The effects of Nitenpyram last for approximately twelve hours after initial ingestion. Nitenpyram is a neurotoxin, and is effective by blocking a flea’s ability to transmit neural messages through their central nervous system. This causes near-instantaneous death in most fleas. Since nitenpyram only stays in an animal’s system for approximately twelve hours, it is not effective for long-term treatment of fleas in a household. The main side effect noted with nitenpyram is extreme itching as fleas are eradicated, which is usually only seen in animals that are heavily infested. Nitenpyram is safe to use in pregnant or nursing dogs and cats, as cited by veterinary studies.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Most consumer reviews about the effectiveness of Capstar as an oral flea killing product are positive. Capstar is usually administered with a relatively high effectiveness rate, being said to kill approximately 90% of biting fleas within 4-6 hours after it is administered to a pet. However, there are a small percentage of people who seem to have witnessed some odd behavioral side effects in some of their pets. For example, there was one reviewer who claimed that her cat had an “allergic reaction” after being given Capstar, which caused her to engage in self-destructive behavior for two hours after application. As this phenomenon is not widespread, however, it is difficult to determine if this reaction was caused by a reaction to the ingredients in Capstar, or if it was potentially caused by another environmental variable.
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Filed under: Flea and Tick Control for Cats • Flea and Tick Control for Dogs
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Hi Susan
Thanks for sharing your views on my blog.
I’m so sorry to hear that your cats are seriously ill and, whatever the cause, I hope that they are not suffering.
Nik
It is my opinion that Capstar has serious long-term health effects. Both of my cats were treated last year for fleas with Capstar. Now both cats are dying from heart disease. One cat is 15 and the other is 10 and both had been in excellent health before treatment. The effects took a couple of months to exhibit itself in the older cat and about a year in the younger cat. It is my opinion that no neuotoxin or insecticide should be administered to any pet at any time.
Hi Nikki
It’s always difficult to know whether a pet is going to have a bad reaction to any pet medication. All you can do is make sure that you follow the advice of your Vet and follow the instructions on the packet absolutely to minimize the risks.
I hope your friend’s kitten makes a full recovery.
Nik
my friend has an 11 week old kitten who after she has capstar seems to have the shake sort of fit like seizures is this normal?
Hi Cy
Thanks for stopping by and contributing to my Pet Meds blog.
I was interested to hear your experiences of using Capstar, which I’m sure will be helpful to all our readers. I hope your pets have not suffered any lasting damage and are now happy and healthy.
Nik
Over the last 6 mos. (Capstar given once every 3-4 days for a couple of weeks, then nothing for a few months, etc.), we’ve noticed an increase in reactions to Capstar in our 10 yr. old German Shepherd (our 3 cats show no reactions). For our dog, within about 20 minutes of a dose of Capstar she begins to pant, show increasing excitability and within about 45 minutes she seems unable to understand verbal commands. She is unable to sit still, either trotting back and forth or if indoors pacing in the same manner. Of course the standard scratching reaction to the fleas dying is also evident. Within about 1.5 – 2 hours she is back to normal.
This definitely seems like some sort of reaction to the meds and not the fleas biting, and we’re no longer comfortable giving her this particular medication.
Our two cents!