Clonidine in horses: identification, detection, and clinical pharmacology.
Clonidine is classified as a class 3 performance-enhancing agent by the Association of Racing Commissioners International and thus has the potential to influence the outcome of a race. In this study, the authors developed and validated a sensitive gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer method to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of clonidine in equine plasma samples after IV administration of a single dose (0.025 mg/kg) of clonidine in horses. At this dose, clonidine produced rapid and profound sedation, which cold be quickly reversed with yohimbine. Clonidine was able to produce an analgesic effect but failed to provide maximal analgesia in all horses; the limited analgesic effect persisted for about 60 minutes.
Dirikolu
L
L
Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, USA.
McFadden
E T
ET
Ely
K J
KJ
ElkHoly
H
H
Lehner
A F
AF
Thompson
K
K
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000662:veterinary; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000700:Analgesics; D015016:Yohimbine; D003000:Clonidine