It’s important to understand a medication’s uses and side effects before giving it to your pet. This medication info sheet is meant to give you a good understanding of what milbemycin oxime (Interceptor) is used for, how it works, and potential side effects in cats and dogs. Always consult a veterinarian before giving your pet any medication.
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1. Drug Name:
milbemycin oxime
Interceptor, Milbemite
Combined with other antiparasitic ingredients in Trifexis, Sentinel, Milbemax, Milbeguard
Prescription-only
2.3mg, 5.75mg, 11.5mg, and 23mg tablets; 0.1% otic solution
Antiparasitic
Heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, ear mites, sarcoptic mange, and demodectic mange
Milbemycin binds to chloride channels in the nerve and muscle cells of parasites, which forces them to stay open, causing paralysis of the affected tissue and killing the parasite.
Dilated pupils, drooling, incoordination, weakness, fever, seizures, coma, and death, especially in dogs with an MDR1 mutation
MDR1 mutation: Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, merle-colored Pomeranians, and long-haired Whippets often have a mutation in the gene that makes P-glycoprotein. This mutation allows milbemycin to cross the blood-brain barrier and can result in life-threatening complications. Normal heartworm preventatives do not use high enough doses for this to become a problem, but if a higher dose of milbemycin is being used, a commercial test kit should be used to determine if a dog has this particular mutation.
Cyclosporine, Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Fluconazole, Erythromycin, Spironolactone, Amiodarone, and Diltiazem
Heartworm Disease in Dogs and Cats
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