title: Influence of feeding schedule on the absorption of orally administered flunixin in the horse.
abstract: The effects of access to hay and of restricted feeding on the pharmacokinetics of flunixin administered orally to six healthy ponies were compared in a cross-over study. No access to feed for a few hours before and after flunixin administration resulted in rapid absorption with a mean peak plasma concentration of 2.84 +/- 0.28 micrograms/ml attained in an average time of 0.76 +/- 0.18 h, followed by an exponential decline in plasma concentration. A lower peak plasma concentration was obtained when ponies had free access to hay before and after drug dosing. The mean maximum concentration (Cmax) was 1.30 +/- 0.23 micrograms/ml and maximum time (tmax) was prolonged to a mean time of 7.66 +/- 1.74 h. Free access to hay reduced and delayed the peak plasma concentration resulting in two or three separate concentration peaks in some ponies. The mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve was not significantly different for the two feeding regimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Royal Veterianry College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stodulski
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cambridge
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000662:veterinary; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D003002:Clonixin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; C014557:flunixin; D003002:Clonixin