Nitenpyram is an insecticide used in agriculture and veterinary medicine to kill insect external parasites of livestock and pets. In veterinary medicine, it is used orally with dogs and cats to control fleas. Nitenpyram is safe to use on puppies and kittens as young as four weeks old so long as they weigh at least 2 pounds (0.91 kg). Panting and excitement have been noted in cats within 2 hours of Capstar administration. Nitenpyram is a neonicotinoid, which means that it is a neurotoxin that blocks the ability for neural messages to transmit through the central nervous system of the flea causing (almost) instant death. It has no long-term residual activity and therefore is not effective as a longer-term flea preventative. It is usually used to kill adult fleas quickly on an infested animal to give immediate relief for a day. It is then usually followed up with some other longer-term flea preventative to prevent reinfestation.
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