Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Transdermal gabapentin use and effects in cats
By Slovak, Jennifer E & Costa, Ana P·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·Animal Medical Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A pilot study of transdermal gabapentin in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats was tested with a new way to deliver gabapentin, a medication often used for pain relief, through their skin. The study involved both young and older cats, and the results showed that gabapentin was absorbed effectively and helped reduce pain over five days of treatment. The cats had their pain levels measured before and after treatment, and significant improvements were noted by day five. This suggests that using a transdermal method for gabapentin could be a helpful option for managing pain in cats.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Clinical use of gabapentin has increased; transdermal delivery in cats is incompletely studied. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if gabapentin permeates feline skin in vitro and in vivo and to determine if pain scores improve after administration. ANIMALS: In vitro: cadaver skin from 6 cats; phase 1: 8 young, healthy client-owned cats; phase 2: 15 client-owned geriatric cats. METHODS: In vitro, gabapentin applied every q12h to ear or cervical skin in diffusion cells. Samples collected at 0, 2, 4, 12, and 24 hours after application. Phase 1: Cats assigned to 1 of 4 groups: 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg applied q8h for 5 days to either ear or cervical skin. Serum samples collected predose, and after 1 and 5 days. Phase 2: 10 mg/kg applied q8h for 5 days. Two validated pain scores recorded predose, and after days 1, 5, and 8. Serum samples collected predose, and after days 1 and 5. Samples were frozen at -80°C for concentration analysis utilizing a validated high-performance liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry method. RESULTS: Gabapentin was identified in all samples. Significant differences in gabapentin concentrations were observed from day 1 to day 5 (P < .02) and in pain scores from predose to day 5 (P < .05) and day 1 to day 5 (P < .05). No differences in pain scores were observed from predose to day 8 (P = .3). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gabapentin in a transdermal base penetrates feline skin in vitro, is absorbed systemically in cats, and may help decrease pain scores.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34060655/