What is Melarsomine used for?

Melarsomine is indicated for: Adult heartworm disease (D. immitis).

Which species have cited Melarsomine dosing data?

Melarsomine dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 1 species: Dog (Domestic).

Is Melarsomine a controlled substance?

Melarsomine is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Melarsomine

US brand names:Immiticide, Diroban

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Melarsomine is dosed at 2.5 mg/kg IM Per AHS protocol in dogs, per Nelson C, McCall JW, Jones S, Moorhead AR. American Heartworm Society Current Canine Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Dogs. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/american-heartworm-society-guidelines. Accessed Mar 16, 2022.; IMMITICIDE - Melarsomine Dihydrochloride and Water [US Product Label for Dogs]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2018. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.849 (2026-08-01).. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Antiparasitic

Routes

Indications

Adult heartworm disease (D. immitis)

Mechanism of Action

Trivalent arsenic compound that kills adult Dirofilaria immitis (heartworms). Mechanism involves disruption of parasite metabolism.

Side effects & warnings

DOGS ONLY. Deep lumbar (epaxial) IM injection. Strict exercise restriction essential post-treatment. Pulmonary thromboembolism risk from dying worms. Pain at injection site.

Species with Melarsomine dosing data (1 dose rule)

Dog (Domestic)

Species references:All Dog (Domestic) drugs

Evidence levels across 1 dose rule

Strong×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by a published source

· Nelson C, McCall JW, Jones S, Moorhead AR. American Heartworm Society Current Canine Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Dogs. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/american-heartworm-society-guidelines. Accessed Mar 16, 2022.; IMMITICIDE - Melarsomine Dihydrochloride and Water [US Product Label for Dogs]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2018. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.849 (2026-08-01).

Sample dosing (1 of 1 cited rule)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 1 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	IM	2.5 mg/kg	Per AHS protocol	Strong	Nelson C, McCall JW, Jones S, Moorhead AR. American Heartworm Society Current Canine Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection in Dogs. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/veterinary-resources/american-heartworm-society-guidelines. Accessed Mar 16, 2022.; IMMITICIDE - Melarsomine Dihydrochloride and Water [US Product Label for Dogs]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.; 2018. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.849 (2026-08-01).

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