Maropitant (Cerenia)
Cerenia
Cerenia (maropitant) is the leading anti-nausea medicine in veterinary practice, used for vomiting from any cause, for motion sickness in dogs and around surgery and chemotherapy. It is a veterinary-only drug with no human equivalent, so it is sold through vets and pharmacies that stock veterinary products.
What it is used for
Maropitant blocks the NK1 receptor in the brain’s vomiting centre, which stops vomiting from most causes rather than from one pathway only. It is given as a tablet once a day for a few days for an upset stomach, as a single dose before a car journey for motion sickness in dogs, and by injection in clinics. It is approved for dogs and cats and is well tolerated; drooling and a sore injection site are the main complaints.
Because it has no human counterpart, a regular pharmacy does not carry it, but pharmacies that stock veterinary products and online veterinary pharmacies dispense it on a vet’s prescription. Human anti-nausea drugs such as ondansetron are the alternatives a human pharmacy can fill.
Safety points that differ from human use
- Stopping the vomiting is not the same as treating the cause; a pet that keeps vomiting, cannot keep water down or has blood in the vomit needs to be seen, not re-dosed.
- Use with care in animals with liver disease, and tell the vet about all other medicines.
- For motion sickness, give the tablet with a small amount of food two hours before travel, as the label directs.
- Tablets
- Injection (clinic use)
- 16, 24, 60 and 160 mg tablets
Tablets are dosed by weight; the vet will specify the strength and whether it is for vomiting or motion sickness, which use different doses.
Why the cash price varies
Cerenia is a single-manufacturer veterinary brand bought from veterinary distributors; clinics, online veterinary pharmacies and the human pharmacies that stock it set their own margins, and the quote depends on the tablet strength and the number dispensed. Generic maropitant has begun to appear in the veterinary market, which should widen the spread.
How to pay less
- Ask the vet whether a generic maropitant tablet can be dispensed.
- For short courses, compare the clinic’s price with a pharmacy that stocks veterinary products.
- Ask whether a human anti-nausea drug such as ondansetron would be appropriate instead; a human pharmacy can fill that.
- Upload the prescription to Script Unlock; pharmacies that carry or can order veterinary products can quote. You pay the pharmacy directly.
Questions for your vet
- What is causing the vomiting, and is this treating it or only the symptom?
- How many days, and what if the vomiting continues?
- For travel, when and how should I give it?
- Is there a generic maropitant?
- Would ondansetron or another human drug be an alternative for my pet?
Rules on refills, transfers and controlled substances differ by state; see pharmacy rules by state.
How Script Unlock gets you a cash price for your pet’s maropitant (cerenia) prescription
Prices on this site come from pharmacies responding to a real prescription. We do not publish estimated, average or "typical" prices, because none of those would be your price.
- 1You upload your prescription
A photo of your your pet’s maropitant (cerenia) prescription prescription is enough. Nothing is sold on the site; you are asking pharmacies to quote.
- 2Licensed pharmacies respond
Pharmacies that Script Unlock has verified see the request and each can reply with its own cash price for your exact drug, strength and quantity.
- 3You choose and pay the pharmacy
You compare the responses, pick a pharmacy, and pay that pharmacy directly when you collect. Script Unlock never takes a patient payment and never sets the price.
Related pet medications
Sources
- FDA Approved Animal Drug Products (Green Book)
- FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
- Merck Veterinary Manual
Written by the Script Unlock editorial team from the sources above. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian or veterinary pharmacist. Last checked 2026-10-03. Nothing here replaces your vet\u2019s directions; doses for animals are set by weight and species.
Script Unlock is a marketplace that lets licensed pharmacies quote a cash price on your prescription. It does not prescribe, dispense or sell medication, does not process patient payments, and does not give medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your prescriber and pharmacist and read the medication guide supplied with your medicine.