title: Pharmacokinetics of Levetiracetam in Healthy Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots ( Amazona ventralis ) After Oral Administration of a Single Dose.
abstract: Long-term anticonvulsive treatments have been poorly described in birds, and few pharmacokinetic studies have been performed, with mixed results. Levetiracetam, a new anticonvulsive drug, has shown good efficacy for monotherapy or adjunctive treatment of seizures in both human and veterinary medicine. To determine pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots ( Amazona ventralis ), 20 healthy birds were randomly divided into 2 groups and administered either a 50 mg/kg (n = 10) or a 100 mg/kg (n = 10) oral dose of levetiracetam with no observable adverse effects. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at 12 time intervals (6 per group) for 16 hours. The concentration-time profiles resembled characteristic absorption, with maximum plasma concentrations of 61.0 μg/mL and 95.1 μg/mL at 60 minutes; terminal half-lives at 2.38 and 2.37 hours; volumes of distribution of 0.807 and 0.773 L/kg, with an area under the curve at 14 100 and 28 820 mg × min/L; and clearance rates of 3.65 and 3.60 mL/min per kg, respectively. Plasma concentrations were greater than 5.5 mg/L for up to 9.4 and 12 hours, suggesting an 8- and 12-hour oral dosing at 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, would be sufficient to maintain targeted values. Clinically, doses and frequencies may need escalation based on differences in species and individuals, and drug levels should be monitored.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schnellbacher
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beaufrère
authors.forename: Dr Med
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Vet
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Thomas N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Tully
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Divers
keywords: Amazona ventralis; Hispaniolan Amazon parrot; anticonvulsive; avian; levetiracetam; pharmacokinetics; plasma concentrations; seizure disorders