Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of buprenorphine and sustained-release buprenorphine after administration to adult alpacas

OBJECTIVE To determine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of buprenorphine after IV and SC administration and of sustained-release (SR) buprenorphine after SC administration to adult alpacas. ANIMALS 6 alpacas. PROCEDURES Buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg, IV and SC) and SR buprenorphine (0.12 mg/kg, SC) were administered to each alpaca, with a 14-day washout period between administrations. Twenty-one venous blood samples were collected over 96 hours and used to determine plasma concentrations of buprenorphine. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by use of noncompartmental analysis. Pharmacodynamic parameters were assessed via sedation, heart and respiratory rates, and thermal and mechanical antinociception indices. RESULTS Mean +/- SD maximum concentration after IV and SC administration of buprenorphine were 11.60 +/- 4.50 ng/mL and 1.95 +/- 0.80 ng/mL, respectively. Mean clearance was 3.00 +/- 0.33 L/h/kg, and steady-state volume of distribution after IV administration was 3.8 +/- 1.0 L/kg. Terminal elimination half-life was 1.0 +/- 0.2 hours and 2.7 +/- 2.8 hours after IV and SC administration, respectively. Mean residence time was 1.3 +/- 0.3 hours and 3.6 +/- 3.7 hours after IV and SC administration, respectively. Bioavailability was 64 +/- 28%. Plasma concentrations after SC administration of SR buprenorphine were below the LLOQ in samples from 4 alpacas. There were no significant changes in pharmacodynamic parameters after buprenorphine administration. Alpacas exhibited mild behavioral changes after all treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Buprenorphine administration to healthy alpacas resulted in moderate bioavailability, rapid clearance, and a short half-life. Plasma concentrations were detectable in only 2 alpacas after SC administration of SR buprenorphine.