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Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in a randomized crossover trial in senior horses.
Abstract: To determine the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and pharmacological effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in senior horses. Methods: 8 university-owned senior horses. Methods: In this randomized, crossover study, horses were assigned to receive either a single oral dose of 2 mg/kg CBD in oil or a single IV dose of 0.1 mg/kg CBD in DMSO between August 10 and September 4, 2020. Blood samples were collected before and then 0.5, 1, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, 192, 216, 240, and 264 hours after CBD administration. Serum biochemical analyses and CBCs were performed. Plasma concentrations of CBD and its metabolites were determined with the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Concentrations of CBD and metabolites (7-COH CBD and 7-COOH CBD) were detected in all plasma samples up to 8 hours after dosing (oral and IV), with 7-COOH CBD being the most predominant metabolite. Pharmacokinetic results for CBD oral dosing at 2 mg/kg were mean ± SD half-life of 7.22 ± 2.86 hours, maximum concentration of 18.54 ± 9.80 ng/mL, and time to maximum concentration of 2.46 ± 1.62 hours. For both oral and IV administrations, 7-COOH CBD did not fall below the limit of quantification for the times reported. Oral bioavailability for CBD was 7.92%. There was no meaningful effect of CBD on results for CBC, serum biochemical analyses, or vital signs for any horse. Conclusions: Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of CBD in senior horses were determined, and there were no adverse effects of administering either the oral or IV dose of CBD evaluated.
Publication Date: 2022-07-18 PubMed ID: 35895770DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.22.02.0028Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
- Adverse Effects
- Bioavailability
- Biochemistry
- Biological Half-Life
- Blood Analysis
- Cannabidiol
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Equine Health
- High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- Intravenous Administration
- Metabolites
- Oral Administration
- Pharmacokinetics
- Plasma
- Random
- Senior Horses
- Serum
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research is a study on the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in senior horses, exploring how the component is broken down and used by the body. It also evaluates the pharmacological impacts of CBD, finding no significant negative effects on the subjects’ vital signs, biochemistry, or CBC results.
Methods
- The researchers used eight university-owned senior horses for this randomized, crossover study.
- Horses were either given a single oral dose of 2 mg/kg CBD in oil or a single IV dose of 0.1 mg/kg CBD in DMSO.
- Blood samples were taken prior to, and at multiple intervals after, the CBD administration, up until 264 hours post-administration.
- Serum biochemical analyses and complete blood counts (CBCs) were performed to ensure the horse’s vital signs, biochemical health, and blood count remained stable.
- Plasma concentrations of CBD and its metabolites were determined through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry – a sophisticated analytical technique used to separate, identify, and quantify components in a mixture.
Results
- Traces of CBD and its metabolites 7-COH CBD and 7-COOH CBD were found in all plasma samples up to 8 hours after dosing, both orally and intravenously (on an IV). 7-COOH CBD was the most predominant metabolite.
- For oral dosing, the study gives detailed pharmacokinetic metrics, including a half-life of 7.22 ± 2.86 hours, a maximum concentration of 18.54 ± 9.80 ng/mL, and a time to reach that maximum concentration of 2.46 ± 1.62 hours.
- Among the times assessed, the concentration of 7-COOH CBD did not fall below the limit of quantification, for both oral and IV administrations.
- Oral bioavailability of CBD was found to be 7.92%, which defines how much of the oral CBD dose can be used by the horses’ bodies.
- There were no significant changes in the horses’ vital signs, serum biochemical analyses, or CBC results due to CBD administration.
Conclusion
- The research effectively determined the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of CBD in senior horses, highlighting that neither the oral nor IV doses of CBD used caused any adverse effects.
- This study provides a solid foundation for future research into the use of CBD for treatment in veterinary medicine, specifically for senior horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Turner SE, Knych HK, Adams AA.
(2022).
Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in a randomized crossover trial in senior horses.
Am J Vet Res, 83(9), ajvr.22.02.0028.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.22.02.0028 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
- K.L Maddy Equine Analytical Pharmacology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- Department of Veterinary Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Area Under Curve
- Biological Availability
- Cannabidiol / adverse effects
- Cannabidiol / pharmacokinetics
- Cross-Over Studies
- Horses
- Humans
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Eichler F, Poźniak B, Machnik M, Schenk I, Wingender A, Baudisch N, Thevis M, Bäumer W, Lischer C, Ehrle A. Pharmacokinetic modelling of orally administered cannabidiol and implications for medication control in horses. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1234551.
- Shilo-Benjamini Y, Milgram J, Lavy E, Quint M, Barasch D, Cern A, Barenholz Y. Efficacy, pharmacokinetics and safety of liposomal synthetic cannabidiol injected subcutaneously in dogs: a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1746266.
- Serrano-Rodríguez JM, Miraz R, Saitua A, Díez de Castro E, Ledesma-Escobar C, Ferreiro-Vera C, Priego-Capote F, Sánchez de Medina V, Sánchez de Medina A. Metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability of cannabigerol in horses following intravenous and oral administration with micellar and oil formulations. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1688214.
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- Kitts-Morgan SE, Sams RA, Muir WW. Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol, (-)-trans-Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, and their oxidative metabolites after intravenous and oral administration of a cannabidiol-dominant full-spectrum hemp product to beagle dogs. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1556975.
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- Thomson ACS, McCarrel TM, Zakharov A, Gomez B, Lyubimov A, Schwark WS, Mallicote MF, Portela DA, Bisiau AL, Wakshlag JJ. Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of single-dose enteral cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid rich hemp in horses (Equus caballus). Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1356463.
- Koch N, Jennotte O, Lechanteur A, Deville M, Charlier C, Cardot JM, Chiap P, Evrard B. An Intravenous Pharmacokinetic Study of Cannabidiol Solutions in Piglets through the Application of a Validated Ultra-High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for the Simultaneous Quantification of CBD and Its Carboxylated Metabolite in Plasma. Pharmaceutics 2024 Jan 20;16(1).
- Eichler F, Ehrle A, Machnik M, Jensen KC, Wagner S, Baudisch N, Bolk J, Pötzsch M, Thevis M, Bäumer W, Lischer C, Wiegard M. Behavioral observations, heart rate and cortisol monitoring in horses following multiple oral administrations of a cannabidiol containing paste (part 2/2). Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1305873.
- Johns TN, Wakshlag JJ, Lyubimov AV, Zakharov A, Burnside WM. Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol-/cannabidiolic acid-rich hemp oil in juvenile cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1286158.
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