Epsiprantel: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Antiparasitic

Also known as

Cestex

Species with doses

Dogs and Cats

General dose range

2.75–5.5 mg/kg PO single dose (repeat if needed) — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Tapeworms in dogs and cats — Dipylidium caninum, Taenia pisiformis/taeniaeformis
• Routine cestode deworming (oral tablet, no fasting needed)

Epsiprantel dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Tapeworms: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.477 (Cestex label): 5.5 mg/kg (2.5 mg/lb) PO once, rounding up to the next tablet size; no fasting required. Control fleas concurrently for Dipylidium.

Cats

• Tapeworms: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.477 (label): 2.75 mg/kg PO once — cats up to 10 lb one 12.5 mg tablet; 11–20 lb one 25 mg tablet.

Contraindications

Known hypersensitivity. Puppies/kittens below the label minimum age/weight. Echinococcus-control programmes where praziquantel is the protocol drug. Otherwise minimal (wide margin).

Adverse effects

• Very well tolerated — minimal effects (poor absorption)
• Occasional vomiting

Drug interactions

• No clinically important systemic drug interactions (poor absorption)
• Concurrent flea control needed for Dipylidium (vector)

Pregnancy and lactation

Wide margin and minimal absorption suggest low risk; follow label (safety in pregnancy not fully established).

Monitoring

• Proglottid passage / faecal exam for cure
• Concurrent flea control for Dipylidium (break the cycle)
• For zoonotic Echinococcus control, prefer praziquantel protocols

Toxicity and overdose

Very low systemic toxicity owing to poor absorption — overdose typically causes only mild GI upset. No characteristic organ toxicity.

Management: Supportive only; no specific antidote needed (wide margin).

Clinical pearls

• A praziquantel-relative tapeworm tablet — effective for Dipylidium/Taenia with a wide safety margin and NO fasting needed
• Always pair Dipylidium treatment with FLEA control — the flea is the intermediate host, or the tapeworms return
• For the zoonotic Echinococcus, praziquantel is the usual protocol drug (deworming/public-health programmes)
• Single oral dose; repeat if reinfection occurs

Mechanism of action

Like praziquantel, epsiprantel increases the permeability of the cestode's tegument (outer membrane) to calcium, causing rapid, sustained muscular contraction and tegumental vacuolisation/disintegration; the damaged, paralysed scolex detaches and the worm is digested/expelled. Its very poor host absorption confines the action to the gut lumen, giving the wide safety margin.

Formulations and products

• 12.5 / 25 / 50 mg tablet (Cestex)
• Cestex (Zoetis) — 12.5 / 25 / 50 mg tablet, Tablet

Storage

Tablets: 15–30 °C, dry, protect from light.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other antiparasitics

• Diminazene Diaceturate
• Doramectin
• Emodepside
• Eprinomectin
• Febantel
• Fenbendazole
• Fipronil
• Flumethrin

Frequently asked questions