Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How gabapentin is processed in cats after different doses
By Adrian, Derek et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2018·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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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 the pain medication gabapentin works in their bodies. The cats received gabapentin through different methods, including an injection, oral doses, and a skin gel. The results showed that gabapentin is highly effective when given orally, with a bioavailability of nearly 95%, meaning most of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream. Importantly, taking gabapentin repeatedly did not change how the drug is processed, so vets don't need to adjust the dose for long-term use. This information can help ensure that cats with chronic pain receive effective treatment.
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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. Tand C, 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 PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30307652/