Evaluation of physical variables, thermal nociceptive threshold testing and pharmacokinetics during placement of transdermal buprenorphine matrix-type patch in healthy adult horses

Matrix type transdermal buprenorphine patches have not been investigated in horses and may provide an effective means of providing continuous pain control for extended period and eliminating venous catheterization.Assessment of the physiological variables (heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature) and thermal nociceptive threshold testing, and describing the pharmacokinetic profile of transdermal buprenorphine matrix-type patch (20 μg h−1 and 40 μg h−1 dosing) in healthy adult horses.Randomised experimental study with a Latin-square design.Six adult healthy horses received each of the three treatments with a minimum 10 day washout period. BUP0 horses did not receive a patch (control). BUP20 horses received one patch (20 μg h−1) applied on the ventral aspect of the tail base resulting in a dose of 0.03–0.04 μg kg−1 h−1. BUP40 horses received two patches placed alongside each other (40 μg h−1) on the tail base resulting in a dose of 0.07–0.09 μg kg−1 h−1. Whole blood samples (for determination of buprenorphine concentration), physiological variables and thermal threshold testing were performed before (0 h) and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, and 96 h after patch application. The patches were removed 72 h following placement and were analyzed for residual buprenorphine content.Between the three groups, there was no change in physiological variables across timepoints as compared to baseline (p > 0.1). With the higher dose, there was a significant increase in thermal thresholds from baseline values from 2 h until 48 h and these values were significantly higher than the group receiving the lower patch dose for multiple timepoints up to 40 h. 40 μg h−1 patch led to consistent measurable plasma concentrations starting at 2 h up to 96 h, with the mean plasma concentrations of > 0.1 ng/ml from 4 h to 40 h.20 μg h−1 and 40 μg h−1 patch doses were well tolerated by all horses. At higher dose, plasma buprenorphine concentrations were more consistently measurable and blunted thermal thresholds for 48 h vs. 32 h with 20 μg h−1 dosing as compared to control.