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Equine veterinary journal2021; 54(1); 153-158; doi: 10.1111/evj.13424

The pharmacokinetics of a fentanyl matrix patch applied at three different anatomical locations in horses.

Abstract: Matrix fentanyl patches have not been investigated in horses and may represent an effective means of providing analgesia over an extended time period without venous catheterisation. Objective: To describe the pharmacokinetics of a matrix transdermal fentanyl patch in horses. Methods: Randomised experiment, Latin-square design. Methods: Six adult horses were given each of three treatments with a 96-hour washout. For each treatment, two 100 µg/h matrix fentanyl patches were applied to the inguinal region (TXA), metacarpus (TXM) or ventral tail base (TXT) for 72 hours. Blood samples for fentanyl analysis were obtained and heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were measured at various time points for 96 hours. Fentanyl plasma concentrations were measured with LC-MS/MS for pharmacokinetic analysis. A mixed-effects model was used to analyse pharmacodynamic variables. Results: The time to maximum plasma concentration, maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve extrapolated to infinity were 10 ± 3.79, 14.3 ± 5.13 and 10.3 ± 4.8 hours; 2.07 ± 0.74, 1.55 ± 0.53 and 2.07 ± 0.72 ng/mL; and 46.6 ± 9.3, 44.6 ± 6.0 and 46.2 ± 7.68 ng hours/mL for TXA, TXM and TXT respectively. There was no significant difference among groups. There was no significant change from baseline or among treatment groups with regard to HR, RR or RT (P > .1 for all). Conclusions: There was no intravenous treatment group for determination of bioavailability. Conclusions: Fentanyl was rapidly absorbed and persisted in the plasma for up to 96 hours. No adverse effects of treatment on HR, RR or RT were observed. Further controlled prospective studies are needed to determine what plasma concentration, if any, of fentanyl achieves an analgesic effect in horses when administered via a transdermal patch system.
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Publication Date: 2021-03-10 PubMed ID: 33453066DOI: 10.1111/evj.13424Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

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.

This research investigated the use and effectiveness of fentanyl matrix patches when applied to different locations on horses. The study finds that these patches absorbed rapidly and their effects persist for up to 96 hours, without causing significant changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature. Further research is required to understand the analgesic impact of these patches on horses.

Objective of the Research

  • The main objective of the research was to investigate if matrix fentanyl patches could provide analgesia or pain relief to horses, over an extended period, without the need for venous catheterization.
  • The researchers wanted to examine whether the application location of these patches on the horses’ anatomical sites influences the pharmacokinetics of the drug. The three different application locations were the inguinal region, the metacarpus, and the base of the tail.

Methodology

  • The study employed a randomized, Latin-square experimental design involving six adult horses, each of whom received three treatments with a 96-hour washout period.
  • In each treatment, two 100 µg/h matrix fentanyl patches were applied to one of the three predetermined anatomical sites.
  • The researchers monitored the horses over 96 hours, collecting blood samples for fentanyl analysis at various time points. They also measured heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature during this period.
  • They used liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to measure fentanyl plasma levels for pharmacokinetic analysis while employing a mixed-effects model to analyze pharmacodynamic variables.

Results

  • The study found approximately the same time to maximum plasma concentration, maximum plasma concentration, and area under the curve extrapolated to infinity across the three different patch application sites, thus indicating no significant difference between the groups.
  • Moreover, the researchers observed no significant changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, or rectal temperature after patch application, suggesting no immediate adverse physiological effects.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that a fentanyl patch is rapidly absorbed and its effects persist in the plasma for up to 96 hours.
  • However, this study lacked a control group, so it was not possible to determine the bioavailability of the drug. Further controlled prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and ascertain the effective analgesic plasma concentration, if any, for horses treated with the fentanyl matrix patch.

Cite This Article

APA
Skrzypczak H, Reed R, Brainard B, Sakai D, Barletta M, Quandt J, Smyth C, Ruch M, Knych H. (2021). The pharmacokinetics of a fentanyl matrix patch applied at three different anatomical locations in horses. Equine Vet J, 54(1), 153-158. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13424

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 153-158

Researcher Affiliations

Skrzypczak, Heather
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.
Reed, Rachel
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.
Brainard, Benjamin
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.
Sakai, Daniel
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.
Barletta, Michele
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.
Quandt, Jane
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.
Smyth, Carly
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.
Ruch, Melanie
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, USA.
Knych, Heather
  • Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacokinetics
  • Animals
  • Chromatography, Liquid / veterinary
  • Fentanyl / pharmacokinetics
  • Horses / blood
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / veterinary

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This article includes 20 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Paranjape VV, Knych HK, Berghaus LJ, Giancola S, Cathcart J, Reed RA. Plasma concentrations of buprenorphine administered via matrix-type transdermal patches applied at three different anatomical locations in healthy adult horses. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2024;5:1390322.
    doi: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1390322pubmed: 38962712google scholar: lookup
  2. Paranjape VV, Knych HK, Berghaus LJ, Cathcart J, Giancola S, Craig H, James C, Saksena S, Reed RA. Evaluation of physical variables, thermal nociceptive threshold testing and pharmacokinetics during placement of transdermal buprenorphine matrix-type patch in healthy adult horses. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2024;5:1373555.
    doi: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1373555pubmed: 38529072google scholar: lookup
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