Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol and evaluation of physiologic and behavioral effects after intravenous and intramuscular administration to neonatal foals.
Abstract: Despite frequent clinical use, information about the pharmacokinetics (PK), clinical effects, and safety of butorphanol in foals is not available. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the PK of butorphanol in neonatal foals after IV and IM administration; to determine whether administration of butorphanol results in physiologic or behavioral changes in neonatal foals; and to describe adverse effects associated with its use in neonatal foals. Methods: Six healthy mixed breed pony foals between 3 and 12 days of age were used. Methods: In a 3-way crossover design, foals received butorphanol (IV and IM, at 0.05 mg/kg) and IV saline (control group). Butorphanol concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed using a noncompartmental PK model. Physiologic data were obtained at specified intervals after drug administration. Pedometers were used to evaluate locomotor activity. Behavioral data were obtained using a 2-hour real-time video recording. Results: The terminal half-life of butorphanol was 2.1 hours and C0 was 33.2 +/- 12.1 ng/mL after IV injection. For IM injection, Cmax and Tmax were 20.1 +/- 3.5 ng/mL and 5.9 +/- 2.1 minutes, respectively. Bioavailability was 66.1 +/- 11.9%. There were minimal effects on vital signs. Foals that received butorphanol spent significantly more time nursing than control foals and appeared sedated. Conclusions: The disposition of butorphanol in neonatal foals differs from that in adult horses. The main behavioral effects after butorphanol administration to neonatal foals were sedation and increased feeding behavior.
Publication Date: 2008-10-03 PubMed ID: 18976284DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0200.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article focuses on studying the pharmacokinetics (drug’s behavior in the body), clinical effects, and safety of the drug butorphanol in neonatal foals (baby horses). The main findings include the fact that the drug behavior differs in baby horses compared to adult ones, and the prominent behavioural effects of drug administration were sedation and increased feeding behavior.
Study Objective
- The purpose of this study was to understand the pharmacokinetic behavior (how the drug gets absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted) of butorphanol in baby horses when administered intravenously (IV) and intramuscularly (IM).
- The study also aimed to evaluate if administration of butorphanol results in any physiological or behavioral changes in neonatal foals.
- The research attempted to record any adverse effects associated with the use of butorphanol in neonatal foals.
Methodology
- The study, involving six healthy mixed-breed pony foals aged between 3 and 12 days, adopted a 3-way crossover design. In this type of design, each participant is tested under multiple conditions.
- The foals received butorphanol (both IV and IM, at 0.05 mg/kg) and IV saline (which served as a control group).
- The concentration of butorphanol was determined through high-performance liquid chromatography and then analyzed using a non-compartmental pharmacokinetic model.
- Vital signs were recorded at specific intervals post drug administration to track physiological responses.
- To assess activity, pedometers were used. Behavioral data was accumulated using a 2-hour real-time video recording.
Results
- Post IV injection of butorphanol, the terminal half-life of the drug was found to be around 2.1 hours, with an initial concentration (C0) of 33.2 +/- 12.1 ng/mL.
- For IM injection, the maximum concentration (Cmax) and the time taken to reach this concentration (Tmax) were 20.1 +/- 3.5 ng/mL and 5.9 +/- 2.1 minutes respectively.
- The bioavailability of butorphanol was calculated to be 66.1 +/- 11.9%.
- While the vital signs were minimally affected, the foals that received butorphanol spent significantly more time nursing than the control foals and showed signs of sedation.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that the disposition (the process of removing the drug from the body) of butorphanol in neonatal foals is different from that in adult horses.
- The main behavioral effects after butorphanol administration to neonatal foals were reported to be sedation and increased feeding behavior.
Cite This Article
APA
Arguedas MG, Hines MT, Papich MG, Farnsworth KD, Sellon DC.
(2008).
Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol and evaluation of physiologic and behavioral effects after intravenous and intramuscular administration to neonatal foals.
J Vet Intern Med, 22(6), 1417-1426.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0200.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
- Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacokinetics
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Behavior, Animal / drug effects
- Butorphanol / administration & dosage
- Butorphanol / pharmacokinetics
- Female
- Horses
- Injections, Intramuscular
- Injections, Intravenous
- Male
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Mota-Rojas D, Velarde A, Marcet-Rius M, Orihuela A, Bragaglio A, Hernández-Ávalos I, Casas-Alvarado A, Domínguez-Oliva A, Whittaker AL. Analgesia during Parturition in Domestic Animals: Perspectives and Controversies on Its Use.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 6;12(19).
- Ebner L, O O, Simon B, Lizarraga I, Smith J, Cox S. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol following intravenous and intramuscular administration in donkeys: A preliminary study.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:979794.
- Kerr CL, Keating SCJ, Arroyo LG, Viel L. Cardiopulmonary effects and recovery characteristics associated with 2 sedative protocols for assisted ventilation in healthy neonatal foals.. Can J Vet Res 2021 Oct;85(4):251-260.
- Mallicote M, House AM, Sanchez LC. A review of foal diarrhoea from birth to weaning.. Equine Vet Educ 2012 Apr;24(4):206-214.
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