Cerenia (Maropitant Citrate)

What is Cerenia?

What is Cerenia? Cerenia is a prescription pet medication that contains the active medicinal ingredient maropitant citrate. Maropitant citrate is a neurokinin (NK1) receptor antagonist. What is Cerenia used for? – Cerenia for dogs is available in two dosage forms: tablet and injectable solution. The tablet form of Cerenia are used for the prevention of acute vomiting and the prevention of vomiting due to motion sickness in dogs. Cerenia injection is used for the prevention and treatment of acute vomiting in dogs. How does Cerenia work? – Maropitant is a neurokinin (NK1) receptor blocker which inhibits the biochemical action of substance P in the central nervous system (CNS). Substance P is found in high concentration in the nuclei comprising the emetic (vomiting) center and is considered to be the main neurotransmitter involved in emesis. Maropitant acts to block the binding of substance P to its receptors. By inhibiting the binding of substance P within the emetic center, maropitant is effective against both neural (central) and humoral (peripheral) causes of vomiting.

How to use Cerenia

Cerenia Injectable Solution and Tablets are recommended for use in dogs sixteen weeks of age or older. Cerenia for cats is not currently available. Cerenia Tablets and Cerenia Injectable Solution can be used interchangeably with one another for once daily dosing for the prevention of acute vomiting. If Tablets are administered with food, it is best to avoid fatty foods, such as meat and cheese, as these could delay the dissolving process and delay the effect of Cerenia. Cerenia Tablets - When used for prevention of acute vomiting: - Administer orally at a minimum dose of 0.9mg/lb or 2mg/kg, body weight, once daily for up to five consecutive days. Cerenia Tablets - When used for prevention of vomiting due to motion sickness - Administer orally at a minimum dose of 3.6mg/lb or 8mg/kg, body weight, once daily, for up to two consecutive days. Dogs should not eat for one hour prior to receiving tablets. Dosage should be administered two hours prior to traveling. Cerenia Injection - Prevention and treatment of acute vomiting - Administration of the medication should take place subcutaneously at 1.0 mg/kg (0.45 mg/lb), equal to 1.0 mL/10 kg (1.0 mL/22 lb,) of body weight once daily for up to 5 consecutive days.

Cerenia warnings and precautions

Cerenia is not for use in humans. Topical exposure may elicit localized allergic skin reactions in certain individuals. Repeated or prolonged exposure may lead to skin sensitization. Cerenia is also an ocular irritant. In the case of exposure to the eyes, flush with water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention immediately. Keep out of reach of children. In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately. In puppies younger than 11 weeks of age, histological evidence of bone marrow hypoplasia was seen at higher frequency and greater severity in those puppies that were treated with Cerenia than those in the control group. Cerenia Injectable Solution is for subcutaneous use only. The safe use of Cerenia has not been evaluated in dogs used for breeding, dogs with gastrointestinal obstruction, dogs that have ingested toxins, or pregnant or lactating bitches. Use with caution in dogs with hepatic dysfunction.

What do I do if I have missed a Cerenia dose?

In the event of a missed dose or an accidental overdose, seek veterinarian advice immediately.

Cerenia interactions

Use with caution with other medications that are highly protein bound. The concomitant use of Cerenia with other protein bound drugs has not been studied in dogs. Some commonly used, protein bound, drugs include NSAIDs, cardiac, behavioral, and anticonvulsant medications. The impacts of concomitant drugs that may prevent or slow the metabolism of Cerenia have not yet been evaluated. In patients requiring adjunctive therapy, drug compatibility should be monitored extremely carefully.

Cerenia side effects

Most dogs did well with Cerenia; however, there were some adverse side effects that were experienced. The most common ones are drooling excessively, lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. The entire list of Cerenia side effects (those that affected more than 0.5% of the test population) experienced during field studies in both the US and Europe included: death, diarrhea, bloody stool, anorexia, otitis/otorrhea, endotoxic shock, hematuria, excoriation, hypersalivation, vomiting, muscle tremors, sedation/depression, retching, flatulence, lethargy, drowsiness, anxiety, inappetence, and mucus in stool.