Research Studies
Pharmacokinetics of flunixin meglumine (Banamine®) in alpacas following single oral administration
Principal investigator:
Misty A. Edmondson
Flunixin meglumine (Banamine® or Flunixamine®) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory that is frequently administered via intramuscular injection in alpacas experiencing painful conditions or fever (pyrexia) although it is commonly only recommended for intravenous administration due to muscle damage associated with intramuscular injection. Intramuscular injection of flunixin meglumine, a very irritating compound, has been associated with a serious and life-threatening infection known as clostridial myonecrosis. Although previous projects in other ruminant species (cattle, goats) have demonstrated that the oral administration of flunixin meglumine is as efficacious as intramuscular or intravenous administration, the pharmacokinetics of flunixin meglumine via oral administration have not been studied in camelids. The objective of this project is to determine the pharmacokinetic profile of flunixin meglumine following single oral administration. This study used six, healthy alpacas and followed a single dosing design following oral and intravenous administration. Flunixin meglumine was administered intravenously and results from serial blood samples were analyzed and compared with the pharmacokinetic results following oral administration. Results from this study indicate erratic bioavailability. As is seen with other drugs administered orally to alpacas, oral absorption is not a reliable route of administration due to destruction of the drug through enzymatic pathways. Therefore, it is concluded that oral administration of flunixin meglumine to alpacas does not result in adequate absorption and would not be beneficial for therapeutic administration.