Journal article
Pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine after single-dose subcutaneous administration in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine, Vol.39(4), pp.590-595
12/2008
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/105564
PMID: 19110701
Abstract
Buprenorphine, a mu opioid receptor agonist, is expected to be a suitable analgesic drug for use in reptiles. However, to date, dosage recommendations have been based on anecdotal observations. The aim of this study was to provide baseline pharmacokinetic data in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) targeting a plasma level of 1 ng/ml reported effective for analgesia in humans. Serial blood samples were taken after subcutaneous injection of buprenorphine, and plasma buprenorphine levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Pharmacokinetic parameters of a lower dose (0.02 mg/kg) injected into the forelimb were compared with a higher dose (0.05 mg/kg) given in the same forelimb as well as a lower dose (0.02 mg/kg) given in the hind limb of the same animals with 2 wk between studies. After administration of 0.05 mg/kg in the front limb, 85% of animals maintained the minimum effective plasma level for 24 hr, while only 43% of animals maintained this level after 0.02 mg/kg. After hind limb injection at 0.02 mg/kg, maximum plasma concentrations and areas under the buprenorphine concentration-time curve were less than 20% and 70%, respectively, of values after forelimb injection, consistent with substantial first pass extraction by the liver. Furthermore, a secondary rise in the buprenorphine level was found after having only a hind limb injection, probably from enterohepatic recirculation of glucuronidated drug. In conclusion, buprenorphine dosages of at least 0.075 mg/kg s.i.d. should be appropriate for evaluation of analgesia efficacy, and front limb administration may be preferable to hind limb administration for optimal drug exposure.
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Details
- Title
- Pharmacokinetics of buprenorphine after single-dose subcutaneous administration in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans)
- Creators
- Maya S Kummrow - Wildlife Clinic, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, Massachusetts 01536, USA. mkummrow@uoguelph.caFlorina TsengLeah HesseMichael Court
- Publication Details
- Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine, Vol.39(4), pp.590-595
- Academic Unit
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Department of
- Publisher
- United States
- Identifiers
- 99900547073301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article