title: Single and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after oral administration to the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
abstract: The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam is a very popular anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic agent used in veterinary medicine. To determine the pharmacokinetics of this NSAID in rabbits following a single dose and 10-day period of dosing, eight clinically normal, 8-mo-old New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were administered 0.2 mg/kg meloxicam p.o. daily. Pharmacokinetic analysis of the meloxicam was determined via noncompartmental analysis. After oral administration, mean +/- standard deviation values for area under the curve were 1.8 +/- 0.50 and 2.1 +/- 0.55 microg x h/ml, and maximum plasma concentrations were 0.17 +/- 0.06 and 0.24 +/- 0.07 microg/ml for Day 1 and Day 10, respectively. The half-life was approximately 8 hr. Administration of meloxicam at a dosage of 0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg p.o. every 24 hr is suggested. Although a higher dose may be required for optimum effects, this would require efficacy and safety studies in this species. Meloxicam administered at 0.2 mg/kg p.o. daily for 10 day was well tolerated by the rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA. carpentr@vet.k-state.edu
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Christal G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D000077239:Meloxicam; D011817:Rabbits; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077239:Meloxicam