Amitraz

Amitraz is a diamide topical antiparasitic agent used against mites and ticks.

It has the following pharmacologic action:

• Adrenergic Agonist
• Insect repellent - substance causing insects to turn away from hosts or reject them as food.
• Insecticide - a pesticides designed to control insects that are harmful to living things. The insects may be directly harmful, as those acting as disease vectors, or indirectly harmful, as destroyers of crops, food products, or textile fabrics.
• Pesticide synergist - chemical that promotes or enhances the effectiveness of other pesticides when combined.

In dogs, amitraz is used for the treatment of generalized demodicosis. The treatment is continued until no viable mites are found in skin scrapings at 2 successive treatments. It is not used to treat scabies. ² It is also used as a general insecticide in various other species.

Amitraz can cause a significant increase in plasma glucose level by inhibiting insulin release via its alpha 2-adrenergic activity. It should be used with caution in diabetic patients. Toy breeds may be more susceptible to CNS effects (short-term sedation). Amitraz can be toxic to cats and rabbits. ³

References:
REF FILE 324-DAC