Effect of feeding on the pharmacokinetics of oral minocycline in healthy adult horses

• Published in: Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics 2018-02, Vol.41 (1), p.e53-e56
• Main Authors: Echeverria, K. O., Lascola, K. M., Giguère, S., Foreman, J. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - blood; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacokinetics; Biological Availability; Eating; Fasting; Female; Horses; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Minocycline - administration & dosage; Minocycline - blood; Minocycline - pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 0140-7783; 1365-2885
• DOI: 10.1111/jvp.12456

Minocycline is commonly used to treat bacterial and rickettsial infections in adult horses but limited information exists regarding the impact of feeding on its oral bioavailability. This study's objective was to compare the pharmacokinetics of minocycline after administration of a single oral dose in horses with feed withheld and with feed provided at the time of drug administration. Six healthy adult horses were administered intravenous (2.2 mg/kg) and oral minocycline (4 mg/kg) with access to hay at the time of oral drug administration (fed) and with access to hay delayed for 2 hr after oral drug administration (fasted), with a 7‐day washout between treatments. Plasma concentration versus time data was analyzed based on noncompartmental pharmacokinetics. Mean ± SD bioavailability (fasted: 38.6% ± 4.6; fed: 15.7% ± 2.3) and Cmax (fasted: 1.343 ± 0.418 μg/ml; fed: 0.281 ± 0.157 μg/ml) were greater in fasted horses compared to fed horses (p