title: Pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen, codeine, and the codeine metabolites morphine and codeine-6-glucuronide in healthy Greyhound dogs.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of codeine and the active metabolites morphine and codeine-6-glucuronide after i.v. codeine administration and the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen (APAP), codeine, morphine, and codeine-6-glucuronide after oral administration of combination product containing acetaminophen and codeine to dogs. Six healthy Greyhound dogs were administered 0.734 mg/kg codeine i.v. and acetaminophen (10.46 mg/kg mean dose) with codeine (1.43 mg/kg mean dose) orally. Blood samples were collected at predetermined time points for the determination of codeine, morphine, and codeine-6-glucuronide plasma concentrations by LC/MS and acetaminophen by HPLC with UV detection. Codeine was rapidly eliminated after i.v. administration (T(1/2) = 1.22 h; clearance = 29.94 mL/min/kg; volume of distribution = 3.17 L/kg) with negligible amounts of morphine present, but large amounts of codeine-6-glucuronide (C(max) = 735.75 ng/mL) were detected. The oral bioavailability of codeine was 4%, morphine concentrations were negligible, but large amounts of codeine-6-glucuronide (C(max) = 1952.86 ng/mL) were detected suggesting substantial first pass metabolism. Acetaminophen was rapidly absorbed (C(max) = 6.74 microg/mL; T(max) = 0.85 h) and eliminated (T(1/2) = 0.96 h). In conclusion, the pharmacokinetics of codeine was similar to other opioids in dogs with a short half-life, rapid clearance, large volume of distribution, and poor oral bioavailability. High concentrations of codeine-6-glucuronide were detected after i.v. and oral administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5802, USA. kukanich@ksu.edu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: KuKanich
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000700:Analgesics / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001682:Biological Availability; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics