Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meloxicam in piglets

• Published in: Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics 2008-06, Vol.31 (3), p.246-252
• Main Authors: FOSSE, T.K, HAGA, H.A, HORMAZABAL, V, HAUGEJORDEN, G, HORSBERG, T.E, RANHEIM, B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adverse effects; analgesia; analgesics; Animals; Animals, Newborn; anti-inflammatory activity; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacokinetics; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Area Under Curve; bioavailability; biochemical pathways; biomarkers; Dinoprostone - antagonists & inhibitors; dosage; drug evaluation; Female; Half-Life; inflammation; intravenous injection; Male; meloxicam; Metabolic Clearance Rate; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents; pharmacokinetics; physiological response; piglets; prostaglandins; Swine; Thiazines - pharmacokinetics; Thiazines - pharmacology; Thiazoles - pharmacokinetics; Thiazoles - pharmacology; Thromboxane A2 - antagonists & inhibitors; Thromboxane A2 - biosynthesis; thromboxanes; veterinary drugs
• ISSN: 0140-7783; 1365-2885
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2885.2008.00958.x

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meloxicam in piglets (16-23 days old) were studied using a stratified parallel group design. One group (n = 13) received 0.4 mg/kg meloxicam intravenously, while the other group (n = 12) received physiological saline solution. A carrageenan-sponge model of acute inflammation was used to evaluate the effects of meloxicam. The plasma clearance was low (0.061 L/kg/h), the volume of distribution was low (0.19 L/kg) and the elimination half-life was short (2.7 h). At most time points, the mean concentration of meloxicam in plasma exceeded the concentrations in exudate indicating a limited accumulation of the drug at the site of the inflammation. There were significant differences between the groups in the exudate prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) concentration, but the inhibition of PGE₂ in the meloxicam group was limited. The inhibition of thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) production in serum in the meloxicam group was extensive, but of shorter duration than the PGE₂ inhibition in exudate.