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              Research 
  
  (Published 
  online : 23-05-2013)
  
  
  13. Pharmacokinetic studies of meloxicam after 
  its intravenous administration in local goat (Capra hircus) of Assam - 
  Abdul Rakeeb Wani, Rohini K. Roy, Ajmal Ashraf and Dulal C. Roy
  Vet World. 2013; 6(8): 516-520
  
   
              
              doi: 
              10.5455/vetworld.2013.516-520
               
              
  
  
   
  
              
               
               
               
              
              
              Abstract
              
              
  
              Aim: The aim of the present 
  study was to determine the meloxicam concentrations in the plasma of goats at 
  different time intervals after its administration by IV route and data were 
  used to determine the different pharmacokinetic parameters and the 
  bioavailability of meloxicam in goats. 
              
  
               Materials and Methods: The 
  present study was conducted on 12 to 18 months old, five adult male local 
  goats (Capra hircus) of Assam, with body weight ranging between 10 to 18 kg. 
  All goats were clinically sound and healthy and reared at Goat Research 
  station, Burnihat, Assam. A single dose of meloxicam was administered 
  intravenously into the jugular vein of goats at the rate of 1 mg/kg body 
  weight. Blood samples were analyzed with the help of high performance liquid 
  chromatography (HPLC) system. 
              
  
               Results: After single intravenous 
  administration of meloxicam at the dose rate of 1mg/kg, the mean peak plasma 
  level of the drug was 6.538±0.1189 µg/ml at 2 min. The mean elimination half 
  life (t1/2β) and mean distribution half life (t1/2α) were 484.5±85.1202 min 
  and 28.68±1.4206 min respectively. The mean values of AUC and AUMC were 
  2635.272±94.2389 µg.min/ml and 1620332±92456.46 µg.min2/ml respectively. The 
  mean values of volume of distribution (Vd) and mean residence time (MRT) were 
  0.276±0.0103 L/kg and 612.948±14.5771 min respectively. 
              
  
               Conclusion: 
  After calculating various pharmacokinetic determinants, dosage regimens were 
  computed for meloxicam in goats, based on minimum effective therapeutic plasma 
  concentration of 0.7 µg/ml.To maintain the minimum effective concentration of 
  0.7 µg/ml in plasma for 25 hours following iv administration of meloxicam, an 
  initial loading dose of 1.1 mg/kg body weight followed by a maintenance dose 
  of 1mg/kg body weight/day is recommended.  
              
  
               Keywords: goat, 
  meloxicam, pharmacokinetic parameters