Flea infestations are frustrating for pet owners and unpleasant for pets. Luckily, there are several effective oral flea treatment options available including CapAction and Capstar. But what’s the difference between these two popular flea pills?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare CapAction and Capstar side-by-side, looking at effectiveness, safety, duration of action, cost, and other key factors. Read on to learn the pros and cons of each medication so you can decide which is the better choice for treating your pet’s flea problem.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Aspects | CapAction | Capstar |
| Active Ingredient | Nitenpyram | Nitenpyram |
| Starts Working | Within 30 mins | Within 30 mins |
| Length of Effectiveness | 24+ hours | 4-6 hours |
| Kills Flea Eggs/Larvae | No | No |
| Waterproof | Yes | No |
| Requires Prescription | Yes | No |
| Cost per Dose | $$ | $ |
Key Differences Between CapAction And Capstar
Now let’s take an in-depth look at how CapAction and Capstar stack up in terms of effectiveness, safety, cost, and other important factors.
- Effectiveness
CapAction and Capstar share the same active ingredient, nitenpyram, so they work in a similar way. Nitenpyram blocks fleas’ neurotransmitters, paralyzing and killing them rapidly.
Both medications start working very quickly, within 30 minutes. This makes them a great option when you need to get rid of fleas in a hurry.
Where CapAction and Capstar differ is how long they keep working. CapAction provides 24+ hours of flea protection, while Capstar is effective for just 4-6 hours.
CapAction binds to your pet’s blood proteins so it lasts longer in the body. Capstar, on the other hand, gets flushed out of the system more quickly.
One benefit of Capstar is that you can safely give additional doses as needed. For example, you could give one dose in the morning and another at night to manage heavy infestations. With CapAction, you can only give one dose every 24 hours.
Neither medication will kill all life stages of fleas. CapAction and Capstar only eliminate adult fleas. They do not affect flea eggs or larvae. For complete control, you’ll need to continue treating your home and pet with other products that address the entire flea life cycle.
Finally, CapAction remains effective even if your pet gets wet. Capstar loses effectiveness if exposed to water or bathing.
Winner: CapAction (provides longer-lasting flea control)
Also Read: Comparison Between Dogtopia And Camp Bow Wow.
- Safety
Both CapAction and Capstar have excellent safety profiles and are approved for use in puppies and kittens from 4 weeks of age.
They are generally well tolerated with few side effects. In clinical trials, vomiting was observed in less than 1% of pets receiving CapAction or Capstar.
It’s important not to exceed the recommended dosages for these medications. Talk to your vet about the appropriate dosage for your pet’s weight.
CapAction should not be used in pets with known neurologic disorders as nitenpyram may exacerbate symptoms. Capstar is considered safe for use in pets with neurologic conditions.
As with any medication, some pets may have allergic reactions to CapAction or Capstar but this is rare. Seek immediate veterinary care if your pet experiences facial swelling, hives, or has trouble breathing after receiving a dose.
Neither product should interact with routine medications, but check with your vet about potential drug interactions especially if your pet takes seizure medications.
Winner: Tie (both have excellent safety profiles)
- Cost and Availability
CapAction requires a prescription from your veterinarian. Capstar is available without a prescription and can be purchased over-the-counter.
This makes Capstar more convenient to obtain. However, discussing your pet’s flea problem with your vet can help ensure Capstar is an appropriate treatment option.
CapAction is more expensive than Capstar. The cost for a single CapAction tablet ranges from $15-$25+ depending on your pet’s weight. Capstar tables cost approximately $5-15 per dose.
Because CapAction works for a full day while Capstar is effective for just a few hours, you would need to administer Capstar more frequently. This makes the total cost for Capstar add up over time.
Veterinarians may offer better pricing on CapAction than online or retail pharmacies, so be sure to ask about available discounts. Buying in bulk can also help reduce the cost per dose for both products.
Winner: Capstar (no prescription required, lower per-dose cost)
Also Read: Comparison Between Seresto and Hartz
- Convenience
CapAction and Capstar couldn’t be easier to administer. The tablets are flavored so most pets eat them readily when offered by hand or in food. No messy liquids or topical applications required.
CapAction’s longer duration of action means it only needs to be given once every 24 hours. Capstar would need to be redosed more often to maintain effectiveness.
CapAction stays effective even after swimming, letting your pet enjoy the water without losing flea protection. Capstar can become ineffective if your pet gets wet.
Both products start working rapidly, killing fleas within 30 minutes, which is more convenient compared to topical treatments that can take hours to start working.
Winner: CapAction (longer-lasting convenience)
- Flea Resistance
While flea resistance is not currently a major issue with CapAction and Capstar, it is possible for fleas to develop resistance to any pesticide with repeated overuse.
Veterinarians recommend rotating flea treatments periodically to help prevent resistance. Using CapAction and Capstar together or alternating between them can help reduce chances of nitenpyram resistance developing in your local flea population.
Monitoring your pet closely and being alert to any decrease in effectiveness over time is also important. Let your vet know if you notice the medication not working as well.
Winner: Tie (resistance not currently a problem but rotating treatments is recommended)
- Additional Benefits
An added advantage of CapAction over Capstar is that it helps control tick infestations for 24 hours along with fleas. Ticks are unaffected by Capstar.
So if ticks are also an issue for your pet, CapAction provides the added benefit of preventing tick attachment for a full day. You’ll still need to use a separate tick preventative long-term though.
Winner: CapAction (provides 24 hours of tick protection)
Also Read: Comparison Between Petcarerx And Chewy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CapAction and Capstar contain the same active ingredient, nitenpyram, and work in a very similar way to kill fleas rapidly. The main difference is that CapAction lasts longer, working for 24+ hours, while Capstar is only effective for 4-6 hours.
No, CapAction is not a generic version of Capstar. They are different brand name products. CapAction is manufactured by Novartis while Capstar is made by Elanco. The longer-lasting CapAction is more expensive than the shorter-acting Capstar.
A single dose of CapAction eliminates fleas on your pet for at least 24 hours. It starts killing adult fleas within 30 minutes and prevents any new fleas from attaching for a full day. However, CapAction doesn’t keep fleas away long-term or kill flea eggs and larvae in your home, so other flea control methods are still needed.
CapAction starts working within 30 minutes and keeps killing fleas for 24 hours after administration. The effects wear off completely by 48 hours. For continued flea protection, CapAction would need to be dosed again every 24 hours. It should not be given more frequently than once per day.
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Conclusion
In summary, for rapid but short-term flea control, Capstar offers a more affordable over-the-counter option. But pet owners looking for longer-lasting effectiveness against both fleas and ticks may want to invest in a prescription CapAction tablet.
While CapAction carries a higher upfront cost, it only needs to be dosed once every 24 hours, making it more convenient long-term than Capstar. And asking your vet about CapAction discounts can help reduce the price.
Also Read: Comaparison Between Argentyn 23 and Sovereign Silver
Whichever oral flea medication you choose, be sure to follow label directions carefully and monitor your pet closely for any potential side effects. Most importantly, use CapAction or Capstar alongside other flea prevention methods like topicals, environmental sprays, and vacuuming for complete control.