Pharmacokinetics of paracetamol in the Thoroughbred horse following an oral multi-dose administration.
Abstract: Paracetamol is a widely used, non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic drug. Scientific evidence suggests that it is an effective pain treatment in equine medicine. However, there is very little published information about the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the horse. The aim of the research was to determine the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol in equine plasma and urine to inform treatment of Thoroughbred racehorses. In this multi-dose study, paracetamol was administered orally at 20 mg/kg to six Thoroughbred horses. Pre- and post-administration urine and plasma samples were collected and analysed using a quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Pharmacokinetic analysis of urine and plasma paracetamol clearance profiles was carried out, which enabled the calculation of possible screening limits (SL) that can regulate for a detection time of 120 h. Additionally, an estimation of orthocetamol concentration levels in urine was carried out to investigate any underlying relationship between the para- and ortho-isomers as both were suspected to contribute to basal levels, possibly due to environmental feed sources.
© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2021-10-13 PubMed ID: 34644412DOI: 10.1111/jvp.13024Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research focuses on understanding how the drug paracetamol, commonly used for pain and fever reduction, is processed in Thoroughbred horses. The scientists administered paracetamol orally to horses, collected plasma and urine samples, and performed analysis to study the drug’s pharmacokinetics and inform future treatment for Thoroughbred racehorses.
Limitations of Current Knowledge
- The researchers acknowledged that while it’s known paracetamol is an effective non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic drug in humans, there’s limited data about its pharmacokinetics, specifically, how it is processed, in horses.
- They posited that studying this process can provide valuable information to guide future treatment of horse ailments in the racehorse industry.
Research Method
- The experiment involved a multi-dose study, in which six Thoroughbred horses were given paracetamol orally at a dosage of 20 mg/kg.
- Before and after administering the paracetamol, urine and plasma samples were collected from horses for analysis.
Analysis and Results
- A quantitative method known as Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to assess the samples.
- The scientists performed a pharmacokinetic analysis, studying the paracetamol clearance profiles in the horse’s plasma and urine.
- With this data, potential screening limits were calculated that can help to regulate a detection time of 120 hours. This is particularly valuable in the racing industry where drug use is tightly controlled.
Additional Observations
- Lastly, they estimated the concentration levels of orthocetamol in the urine.
- Orthocetamol is an isomer, or a molecule with the same formula as paracetamol but with a different arrangement of atoms and therefore different properties.
- This was to investigate any relationship between paracetamol and orthocetamol, as both were suspected to contribute to the horse’s basal levels, possibly due to environmental feed sources.
Cite This Article
APA
Pesko B, Habershon-Butcher J, Muir T, Gray B, Taylor P, Fenwick S, Hincks P, Scarth J, Paine S.
(2021).
Pharmacokinetics of paracetamol in the Thoroughbred horse following an oral multi-dose administration.
J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 45(1), 54-62.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.13024 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- LGC, Fordham, UK.
- British Horseracing Authority, London, UK.
- British Horseracing Authority, London, UK.
- LGC, Fordham, UK.
- LGC, Fordham, UK.
- LGC, Fordham, UK.
- LGC, Fordham, UK.
- LGC, Fordham, UK.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Acetaminophen
- Administration, Oral
- Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
- Animals
- Chromatography, Liquid / veterinary
- Horses
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry / veterinary
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Gold JR, Grubb T, Court MH, Villarino NF. Pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen after a single Oral administration of 20 or 40 mg/kg to 7-9 Day-old foals.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1198940.
- Mercer MA, Davis JL, McKenzie HC. The Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic Evaluation of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Adult Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 10;13(10).
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