title: Pharmacokinetics of fentanyl after single intravenous injection and constant rate infusion in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the plasma concentration and define the pharmacokinetic characteristics of fentanyl (10 microg kg(-1)) administered as a single intravenous (IV) injection followed by: (a) no further drug; or (b) a constant rate infusion (CRI) of fentanyl 10 microg kg(-1) hour(-1) lasting 1, 3 or 4 hours in dogs. Animals Fourteen healthy adult beagles (seven males and seven females).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized cross-over design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were randomly assigned to four treatment groups. Drugs were administered to each dog in a randomized cross-over design with at least a 14-day washout interval between experiments. All dogs received an IV loading dose of fentanyl (10 microg kg(-1)). One group received no further fentanyl. In others, the loading dose was followed by a CRI of fentanyl (10 microg kg(-1) hour(-1)) for 1, 3 or 4 hours. Blood samples were collected and plasma fentanyl concentrations determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Plasma pharmacokinetic estimates were obtained by plotting plasma concentrations versus time data and by fitting the change in concentration to a pharmacokinetic model, using a purpose-built program written by the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Kyoto University) in Visual Basic (VBA) on Excel (Microsoft Corporation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma fentanyl concentration decreased rapidly after single IV injection: the plasma concentration-time curve best fitted a two-compartment model. Pharmacokinetic variables for IV injection were characterized by a short distribution half-time (t1/2alpha was 4.5 minutes), a relatively long elimination half time (t1/2beta was 45.7 minutes), a large volume of distribution (approximately 5 L kg(-1)) and high total body clearance (77.9 mL minute(-1) kg(-1)). Stable plasma fentanyl levels were obtained in all CRI groups although pharmacokinetic variables were influenced by the duration of administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While this study clarified the pharmacokinetic features of rapid IV fentanyl injection and CRI in dogs, the plasma concentration achieving analgesia was not and so further research is needed. Further studies on the effects of other sedatives and/or anaesthetics on fentanyl's disposition are also required as the drug is commonly used with other agents.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. tsano@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Ryohei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Hideko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D005283:Fentanyl