What are the medications against ticks called? - briefly
The drugs used to prevent or treat tick infestations are called acaricides. Common acaricides include permethrin, fipronil and amitraz.
What are the medications against ticks called? - in detail
Tick‑control products are generally referred to as acaricides. These agents can be classified by route of administration, chemical class, and target species.
Oral formulations for companion animals belong mainly to the isoxazoline group. Active substances include fluralaner, afoxolaner, sarolaner and lotilaner. Commercial preparations such as Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica and Credelio provide systemic protection lasting from one to twelve weeks, depending on the product.
Topical spot‑on treatments contain pyrethroids (permethrin, deltamethrin), amidines (amitraz) or phenylpyrazoles (fipronil). Products like Frontline, Advantix and K9 Advantix II are applied to the skin and distribute over the coat, offering weekly or monthly efficacy.
Collars release volatile acaricidal compounds, most often imidacloprid combined with flumethrin. Brands such as Seresto provide continuous protection for up to eight months.
Sprays and shampoos employ pyrethrins, cypermethrin or chlorpyrifos for immediate kill of attached ticks. These are intended for short‑term use and require re‑application after exposure.
Livestock treatments include pour‑on formulations (e.g., Diazinon‑based products), injectable macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin, doramectin) and pour‑on fipronil preparations. These agents reduce tick burden on cattle, sheep and horses and help control tick‑borne diseases.
Human tick prevention relies on repellents containing DEET, picaridin or permethrin‑treated clothing. Permethrin is the only acaricide approved for direct skin application in many jurisdictions, typically at concentrations of 0.5 % to 1 %.
Regulatory classification distinguishes prescription acaricides (e.g., isoxazolines for dogs) from over‑the‑counter options (e.g., permethrin sprays). Resistance monitoring focuses on pyrethroid‑insensitive tick populations, prompting rotation of chemical classes to preserve efficacy.