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Home / Equine Research Bank / Metabolites / Transdermal Flunixin Meglumine as a Pain Relief in Donkeys: ...
Metabolites2023; 13(7); doi: 10.3390/metabo13070776

Transdermal Flunixin Meglumine as a Pain Relief in Donkeys: A Pharmacokinetics Pilot Study.

Abstract: Recent approval of transdermal flunixin meglumine (FM) (Banamine®) in cattle has opened the door for the drug's potential application in other species. Transdermal FM could provide a safe and effective form of pain relief in donkeys. In order to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and effects of FM on anti-inflammatory biomarkers in donkeys, a three-way crossover study design was employed. In total, 6 healthy donkeys were administered transdermal (TD) FM at a dosage of 3.3 mg/kg, and oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) doses of 1.1 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected over 96 h to determine the concentration of flunixin, 5OH flunixin, and eicosanoids (TXB2 and PGF2 alpha) using LC-MS/MS. The results indicated that both flunixin and 5OH flunixin were detectable in blood samples collected during TD. The elimination of the drug was slower following the TD route compared to PO and IV. TD administration significantly decreased TXB2 levels in non-stimulated serum from 1 to 96 h post-administration, while IV and PO resulted in TXB2 reduction for 1 to 8 h. A significant reduction in PGF2 alpha was observed in PO and IV 1 h after administration, while TD resulted in a gradual decline from 4 to 72 h. The study concluded that the off-label use of transdermal FM at 3.3 mg/kg could be effective in controlling inflammation in donkeys.
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Publication Date: 2023-06-21 PubMed ID: 37512483PubMed Central: PMC10383245DOI: 10.3390/metabo13070776Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 study explores the effects of the transdermal method of administering flunixin meglumine, a pain reliever, in donkeys and provides findings on how it could be a safe and effective option for mitigating pain and inflammation in donkeys.

Introduction

  • The research was triggered by the recent approval of the use of transdermal (a method of delivery where the drug is absorbed through the skin) flunixin meglumine (FM) in cattle which led to the hypothesis that it could be effective in other species like donkeys.
  • The transdermal application of flunixin meglumine was examined as a potential alternative for pain relief in donkeys.

Methodology

  • The researchers employed a three-way crossover study design to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (how the body processes a drug) and the effects of FM on anti-inflammatory biomarkers in donkeys.
  • They used 6 healthy donkeys and administered transdermal (TD) FM at a dosage of 3.3 mg/kg, and oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) doses of 1.1 mg/kg body weight.
  • Blood samples from the donkeys were collected over the course of 96 hours to determine the concentration of flunixin, 5OH flunixin, and eicosanoids (TXB2 and PGF2 alpha) using the LC-MS/MS method (a common technique in analytical chemistry).

Findings

  • A significant presence of both flunixin and 5OH flunixin was detected in the blood samples collected during the TD administration method.
  • The rate of elimination of the drug from the body was found to be slower with the TD method compared to the PO and IV methods.
  • Furthermore, the TD administration significantly decreased the levels of TXB2, a type of eicosanoid, in non-stimulated serum from 1 to 96 hours post-administration. On the other hand, the intravenous and oral methods only resulted in a reduction of TXB2 levels for a period ranging from 1 to 8 hours.
  • A significant decrease in another eicosanoid, PGF2 alpha, was observed in PO and IV routes 1 hour after administration, while a gradual decline from 4 to 72 hours was seen with the TD route.

Conclusion

  • Based on the findings of the study, the researchers concluded that the off-label use of transdermal FM at a dosage of 3.3 mg/kg could be potentially effective in controlling pain and inflammation in donkeys.

Cite This Article

APA
McLean AK, Falt T, Abdelfattah EM, Middlebrooks B, Gretler S, Spier S, Turoff D, Navas Gonzalez FJ, Knych HK. (2023). Transdermal Flunixin Meglumine as a Pain Relief in Donkeys: A Pharmacokinetics Pilot Study. Metabolites, 13(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13070776

Publication

Metabolites
ISSN: 2218-1989
NlmUniqueID: 101578790
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 7

Researcher Affiliations

McLean, Amy K
  • Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
  • World Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Equitarian Initiative, Stillwater, MN 55028, USA.
Falt, Tara
  • Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Abdelfattah, Essam M
  • Department of Animal Hygiene, and Veterinary Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt.
  • Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Middlebrooks, Brittany
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
Gretler, Sophie
  • K.L. Maddy Equine Analytical Pharmacology Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Spier, Sharon
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Turoff, David
  • Equitarian Initiative, Stillwater, MN 55028, USA.
Navas Gonzalez, Francisco Javier
  • World Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Department of Genetics, Veterinary Sciences, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Knych, Heather K
  • K.L. Maddy Equine Analytical Pharmacology Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Chen JC, Yang F, Li GH, Duan MH, Li ZE, Dai Y, Zhang M, Yang F. Pharmacokinetics of Danofloxacin in Gushi Chickens after Single Oral and Intravenous Administration. Metabolites 2023 Aug 2;13(8).
    doi: 10.3390/metabo13080906pubmed: 37623849google scholar: lookup
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