The impact of pain on the pharmacokinetics of transdermal flunixin meglumine administered at the time of cautery dehorning in Holstein calves

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling of ketoprofen and flunixin at piglet castration and tail-docking

This study performed population‐pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (pop‐PK/PD) modeling of ketoprofen and flunixin in piglets undergoing routine castration and tail‐docking, utilizing previously published data. Six‐day‐old male piglets (8/group) received either ketoprofen (3.0 mg/kg) or flunixin (2.2 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Two hours post‐dose, piglets were castrated and tail docked. Inhibitory indirect response models were developed utilizing plasma cortisol or interstitial fluid prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration data. Plasma IC50 for ketoprofen utilizing PGE2 as a biomarker was 1.2 μg/ml, and ED50 for was 5.83 mg/kg. The ED50 calculated using cortisol was 4.36 mg/kg; however, the IC50 was high, at 2.56 μg/ml. A large degree of inter‐individual variability (124.08%) was also associated with the cortisol IC50 following ketoprofen administration. IC50 for flunixin utilizing cortisol as a biomarker was 0.06 μg/ml, and ED50 was 0.51 mg/kg. The results show that the currently marketed doses of ketoprofen (3.0 mg/kg) and flunixin (2.2 mg/kg) correspond to drug responses of 33.97% (ketoprofen‐PGE2), 40.75% (ketoprofen‐cortisol), and 81.05% (flunixin‐cortisol) of the maximal possible responses. Given this information, flunixin may be the best NSAID to use in mitigating castration and tail‐docking pain at the current label dose.

Effect of rain on absorption after transdermal application of flunixin in calves

Flunixin is a nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has anti‐inflammatory, anti‐pyretic, and analgesic effects. Recently, a novel transdermal formulation was developed (Finadyne^® Transdermal, MSD Animal Health) and is now the first NSAID registered to be administered as a pour‐on product in cattle. According to the manufacturer's instructions, the pour‐on product should be applied only to dry skin and exposure to rain should be avoided for at least 6 hr after application. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of simulated exposure to light or heavy rain on flunixin absorption and bioavailability within the first 4 hr after administration. Therefore, an isocratic HPLC method was developed to quantify flunixin concentrations in bovine serum by UV detection. Light rain decreased flunixin absorption only when rain started immediately after flunixin administration, while light rain starting more than 30 min after administration of flunixin had no effect on absorption. Absorption and bioavailability of flunixin was impacted under simulated heavy rain conditions, when exposure to rain occurred within one hour after the application of the pour‐on formulation, but not later.