Pharmacokinetics of oral clonazepam in growing commercial pigs (Sus scrofa domestica)
Corresponding Author
Chiara E. Hampton
Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Correspondence
Chiara E. Hampton, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorStephanie A. Kleine
Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJoe S. Smith
Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorPierre-Yves Mulon
Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorChristopher K. Smith
Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorGregory A. Shanks
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorLucille Ruth Vanecek
Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorReza Seddighi
Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSherry Cox
Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Chiara E. Hampton
Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Correspondence
Chiara E. Hampton, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorStephanie A. Kleine
Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorJoe S. Smith
Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorPierre-Yves Mulon
Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorChristopher K. Smith
Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorGregory A. Shanks
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorLucille Ruth Vanecek
Animal Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorReza Seddighi
Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSherry Cox
Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Clonazepam causes sedation and psychomotor impairment in people. Due to similarities between people and swine in response to benzodiazepines, clonazepam may represent a viable option to produce mild-to-moderate tranquillization in pigs. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of a single oral dose (0.5 mg/kg) of clonazepam in eight healthy, growing commercial cross pigs. Serial plasma samples were collected at baseline and up to 96 h after administration. Plasma concentrations were quantified using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and compartment models were fit to time–concentration data. A one-compartment first-order model best fits the data. Maximum plasma concentration was 99.5 ng/mL, and time to maximum concentration was 3.4 h. Elimination half-life was 7.3 h, mean residence time 7.4 h, and apparent volume of distribution 5.7 L/kg. Achieved plasma concentrations exceeded those associated with psychomotor impairment in people although pharmacodynamic effects have not been investigated in pigs. A simulated oral regimen consisting of 0.35 mg/kg administered every 8 h to pigs would achieve plasma concentrations above 32 ng/mL which are shown to produce psychomotor impairment in people. Further studies to test the clinical efficacy of these dosages in commercial and miniature pigs are warranted.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The authors declare no conflict of interest for the present study.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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