Pharmacokinetics and safety of oral administration of meloxicam to foals.
Abstract: The pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of meloxicam have been evaluated in adult horses, but not foals. Physiologic differences between neonates and adults might alter drug pharmacokinetics and therapeutic index. Objective: The pharmacokinetics of meloxicam will be different in foals compared with adult horses, and foals could be at increased risk for adverse drug effects. Methods: Twenty lightbreed foals less than 6 weeks of age at commencement of the study. Methods: Single and repeated oral dose pharmacokinetics were determined for meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg) in 10 foals. The safety of the drug was further evaluated in a 2nd group of 10 foals in a randomized blinded prospective study. Results: Plasma concentrations after a single oral dose of meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg) and time to maximum plasma concentration were similar to adult horses. However, drug clearance was much more rapid in foals (elimination half-life 2.48 ± 0.25 hours). Administration of 0.6 mg/kg every 12 hours was well tolerated by foals for up to 3 weeks, with no evidence of drug accumulation in plasma. Adverse effects observed in adult horses at higher dose rates were not observed in foals given 1.8 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days. Conclusions: Meloxicam at an oral dose rate of 0.6 mg/kg every 12 hours provided plasma concentrations likely to be therapeutic. In contrast to findings for other NSAIDs, foals appeared more resilient to the adverse effects of this drug than was observed in adult horses.
Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2013-02-20 PubMed ID: 23425143DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12045Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates the pharmacokinetics and safety of orally administered meloxicam in foals. Meloxicam activity in adult horses has been studied earlier but not in foals. The research found that meloxicam clears out more swiftly in foals as compared to adult horses and it is found to be well tolerated by foals when given for up to 3 weeks.
Objective
The goal of this research was to compare the pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in foals and adult horses. The researchers hypothesize that drug metabolism may differ between these two groups due to their physiological differences. Furthermore, given their young age, foals might be more prone to developing adverse effects from the medication.
Methods
- Twenty lightbreed foals below 6 weeks of age were selected for this study.
- In the first phase of the study, the pharmacokinetics of a single and repeated oral dose of meloxicam was determined in 10 foals.
- The second phase of the study evaluated the drug’s safety in another group of 10 foals. This was a randomized, blinded, prospective study.
Results
- The results showed that plasma concentrations after a single oral dose of meloxicam were similar to those in adult horses. However, the drug was cleared more rapidly in foals.
- The drug was well tolerated by foals administered a dose of 0.6 mg/kg every 12 hours for up to 3 weeks. There was no evidence of drug accumulation in plasma.
- Furthermore, foals did not experience the adverse effects observed in adult horses given a higher dosage.
Conclusions
Meloxicam, when administered orally at a dosage rate of 0.6 mg/kg every 12 hours, provided therapeutic plasma concentrations. Interestingly, in contrast to findings for other NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), foals appeared more resilient to this drug’s adverse effects as compared to adult horses. This research may prove beneficial in revising dosing guidelines for meloxicam in foals.
Cite This Article
APA
Raidal SL, Edwards S, Pippia J, Boston R, Noble GK.
(2013).
Pharmacokinetics and safety of oral administration of meloxicam to foals.
J Vet Intern Med, 27(2), 300-307.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12045 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia. sraidal@csu.edu.au
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / blood
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacokinetics
- Double-Blind Method
- Female
- Half-Life
- Horses / metabolism
- Male
- Meloxicam
- Prospective Studies
- Thiazines / administration & dosage
- Thiazines / adverse effects
- Thiazines / blood
- Thiazines / pharmacokinetics
- Thiazoles / administration & dosage
- Thiazoles / adverse effects
- Thiazoles / blood
- Thiazoles / pharmacokinetics
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- van Loon JPAM, Trindade PHE, da Silva GV, Keus J, Huberts C, de Grauw JC, Lanci A. Objective assessment of acute pain in foals using a facial expression-based pain scale. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1520-1530.
- Fadel C, Giorgi M. Synopsis of the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, applications, and safety of firocoxib in horses. Vet Anim Sci 2023 Mar;19:100286.
- Flood J, Stewart AJ. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Associated Toxicities in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 26;12(21).
- Donnell JR, Frisbie DD. Use of firocoxib for the treatment of equine osteoarthritis. Vet Med (Auckl) 2014;5:159-168.
- Pearson JM, Pajor E, Campbell J, Levy M, Caulkett N, Windeyer MC. A randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of administering a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to beef calves assisted at birth and risk factors associated with passive immunity, health, and growth. Vet Rec Open 2019;6(1):e000364.
- Mendoza FJ, Serrano-Rodriguez JM, Perez-Ecija A. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after oral administration of a granule formulation to healthy horses. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):961-967.
- Vivancos M, Barker J, Engbers S, Fischer C, Frederick J, Friedt H, Rybicka JM, Stastny T, Banse H, Cribb AE. Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of 2 meloxicam oral dosage formulations in healthy adult horses. Can Vet J 2015 Jul;56(7):730-6.
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