Methods: Following baseline measurement of lameness, horses were administered each of four treatments orally in grain: treatment G, gabapentin (20 mg kg-1) twice daily for 13 doses; treatment F, firocoxib (171 mg once, then 57 mg once daily for six doses); treatment GF, gabapentin and firocoxib at previously stated doses and frequencies; or This review aimed to clarify gabapentin use and pharmacokinetic aspects to promote conscious use in dogs, cats, and horses. In dogs, gabapentin was useful in the treatment of epilepsy, as well as chronic, neuropathic, and post-operative pain and anxiety. Our results suggest that horses tolerate gabapentin up to 120 mg/kg PO q 12 h for 14 days. The analgesic effect of the dosage regimens evaluated in our study warrants further research. Limited scientific information exists regarding the effective and safe dosing of gabapentin in horses. Following baseline measurement of lameness, horses were administered each of four treatments orally in grain: treatment G, gabapentin (20 mg kg –1) twice daily for 13 doses; treatment F, firocoxib (171 mg once, then 57 mg once daily for six doses); treatment GF, gabapentin and firocoxib at previously stated doses and frequencies; or treatment C, grain only as a control. Gabapentin, although well tolerated in horses, has somewhat poor absorption following oral administration. 11,12 In horses that had food withheld for 0.5 hours before and 1 hour after administration of a single 20 mg/kg dose of orally administered gabapentin, bioavailability was 16.2%. 11 In a clinical report 13 describing a pregnant draft Considering the gabapentin effective plasma concentration in the rat for the treatment of inflammatory hyperalgesia (16.7 µg/mL) [100,102], a therapeutic dosage in the horse that maintains the same plasma concentration levels could be 10 mg/kg every 8 h, 20 mg/kg every 12 h, or 80 mg/kg every 24 h . In the study, gabapentin was administered at a dosage of 20 mg/kg, which is considered safe in horses. 3 At this dosage, gabapentin did not improve any measure of lameness in horses with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the thoracic limbs. Gabapentin Horse Lameness Chronic pain Analgesia abstract Gabapentin has been used to treat chronic pain in people and small animals. To date, no study has reported its use in horses for the treatment of chronic painful conditions. The clinical effectiveness of gabapentin as an analgesic in horses with chronic lameness was Dosage and Tolerance. Horses can tolerate high doses of gabapentin. Studies suggest that horses can tolerate up to 120 mg/kg PO every 12 hours for 14 days. However, it’s crucial to follow the vet’s prescribed dosage instructions. Although horses generally tolerate gabapentin well, each individual may react differently. The apparent low bioavailability of oral gabapentin in horses suggests that gabapentin may need to be administered IV or at very large oral doses to see a positive effect on chronic musculoskeletal pain. What is the Typical Dosage of Gabapentin for Horses? Dosage can vary, but generally, a range of 10-20 mg/kg is considered safe. Some studies have indicated that horses can tolerate doses up to 120mg/kg every 12 hours for 14 days without showing serious adverse effects. Gabapentin has a relatively low bioavailability, but no apparent adverse effects following oral administration in horses 75, 76. Further work is needed to assess the clinical effect of gabapentin more objectively in horses with clinical pain. “Gabapentin is very poorly bioavailable, and responses are extremely variable. Plus, finding the correct dose can take weeks to months,” Hector said. Nonetheless, Hector noted, “I think that gabapentin is always worth a try if cost and availability don’t preclude an owner from spending money on something else that has better data behind it. Six horses with chronic lameness referable to musculoskeletal pathology were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 5 and. 10 mg/kg body weight of gabapentin, and placebo administered PO three times daily for 14 days. All horses received each treatment separated by a 2-week interval. Gabapentin (20 mg⁄ kg) was administered i.v. or p.o. to six horses using a randomized crossover design. Plasma gabapentin concentrations were measured in samples collected 0–48 h postadministration employing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Considering the gabapentin effective plasma concentration in the rat for the treatment of inflammatory hyperalgesia (16.7 µg/mL) [100,102], a therapeutic dosage in the horse that maintains the same plasma concentration levels could be 10 mg/kg every 8 h, 20 mg/kg every 12 h, or 80 mg/kg every 24 h . Davis et al [9] found that gabapentin administered at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg bwt PO every 8 hours to a pregnant draft horse was effective in the treatment of femoral neuropathy after colic surgery. Contrary to that suggested by Matthews and Dyson [26] of a slow onset of effective pain relief, the mare appeared to be more comfortable and less Gabapentin. Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic drug that has been used to treat neuropathic pain and prevent windup. It’s mechanism of action is unclear but is thought to involve inhibition of neurotransmitter release. It has been shown to be absorbed in horses when given iv but has poor oral bioavailability (16%). “Gabapentin works by quieting excitable nerves and allowing other pain medications to be more effective,” says Bidwell. et al. Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of 2 meloxicam oral Gabapentin has been used extensively for the treatment of pain of nerve origin in horses, and, more recently, for the treatment of other painful conditions including laminitis. It has been used at a dose rate of 5mg/kg to 20mg/kg, although the author has only been convinced of clinical effect at the top end of that range.
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