Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How gabapentin medicine works in cats after different doses
By Adrian, Derek et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·2018·Comparative Pain Research and Education Centre , Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: The pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in cats
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of eight mixed-breed cats was studied to understand how gabapentin, a common pain medication, works in their bodies. The cats received gabapentin through different methods: an injection, orally once, or orally twice a day for two weeks. The results showed that gabapentin is quickly absorbed and remains effective for several hours, with no need to change the dose for long-term use. However, using a transdermal gel for this medication was found to be ineffective. This information can help veterinarians better manage chronic pain in cats.
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Abstract
Abstract Background Gabapentin is the most commonly prescribed medication for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain in cats. Despite this common and chronic usage, clinically relevant pharmacokinetic data is lacking. Objectives To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of clinically relevant dosing regimens of gabapentin in cats. Animals Eight research-purpose mixed-breed cats. Methods Cats were enrolled in a serial order, non-randomized pharmacokinetic study. Gabapentin was administered as an IV bolus (5 mg/kg), orally (10 mg/kg) as a single dose or twice daily for 2 weeks, or as a transdermal gel (10 mg/kg) in serial order. Serial blood samples were collected up to 48 hours. Plasma concentrations were determined using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Compartmental analysis was used to generate gabapentin time-concentration models. Results After IV administration CL (median (range)) and terminal half-life were 160.67 mL/kg*hr (119.63-199.11) and 3.78 hours (3.12-4.47), respectively. The oral terminal half-life was 3.63 hours (2.96-4.77), and 3.72 hours (3.12-4.51) for single and repeated dosing. TMAX and CMAX, as predicted by the model were 1.05 hours (0.74-2.11), and 12.42 μg/mL (8.31-18.35) after single oral dosing, and 0.77 hours (0.58-1.64), and 14.78 μg/mL (9.70-18.41) after repeated oral dosing. Bioavailability after a single oral dose was 94.77% (82.46-122.83). Importance Repeated oral dosing of gabapentin did not alter the drug's pharmacokinetics, making dose adjustments unnecessary with long-term treatment. As prepared, the transdermal route is an inappropriate choice for drug administration. These relevant data are important for future studies evaluating potential efficacy of the medication for treating chronic pain states in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15313