This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, the sedative and anti-nociceptive effects of intravenous hydromorphone in dogs. Five adult dogs were administered hydromorphone (0.1 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg) and morphine (0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg) at weekly intervals. Blood samples were drawn before and at 1, 2, 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after drug administration. Plasma hydromorphone only was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection and pharmacokinetic parameters calculated. Anti-nociceptive and sedation scores were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis one-way anova on ranks and post-hoc Bonferroni test with 5% significance level. The data fitted a two-compartment model with a fast distribution (<1 min for both doses) and slower elimination rate. Mean elimination half-life was 80 +/- 52.7 and 57.7 +/- 30.4 min for the high and low dose, respectively. The apparent mean volumes of distribution at steady-state were 7.2 +/- 3 and 4.5 +/- 2.4 L/kg, while the clearance was 74.7 +/- 19 and 68.1 +/- 20 mL/kg/min for the high and low doses, respectively. Compared to saline, hydromorphone and morphine produced significant anti-nociception and sedation of similar magnitude for 120 min. In conclusion, intravenous hydromorphone has a large volume of distribution, and high clearance rate that exceeds hepatic blood flow. In dogs, it produced mechanical anti-nociception and sedation of a magnitude similar to morphine.

This study compared plasma histamine concentrations, behavioral and cardiovascular parameters following intravenous administration of hydromorphone and morphine in conscious dogs. Five adult female dogs received a 15-sec bolus injection of saline, hydromorphone (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) or morphine (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) randomly at weekly intervals. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein before and at 1, 2, 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after drug administration. Plasma histamine concentration, noninvasive oscillometric blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm were evaluated. Data were analyzed with repeated measures anova and Tukey-Kramer post hoc test with a 5% significance level. Median plasma histamine increased significantly only after the higher dose of morphine. Maximum plasma histamine measured was 0.8 ng/mL after saline and, after the lower and higher doses, respectively, 10.2 and 9.7 ng/mL for hydromorphone, and 440 and 589 ng/mL for morphine. One dog became hypotensive immediately after receiving the highest dose of morphine. Occasional ventricular premature contractions occurred in one dog after both opioids and dosages. No dogs vomited or defecated, but all salivated profusely with both opioids. Neuroexcitation occurred in four dogs following each opioid. In conclusion, intravenous hydromorphone induced minimal histamine release and was well tolerated by these conscious healthy dogs.

This study examined the pharmacokinetics and physiologic effects of two infusions rates of morphine in conscious dogs. Five adult dogs were randomly studied at weekly intervals. An initial dose of either 0.3 or 0.6 mg/kg were each followed by infusions of 0.17 and 0.34 mg/kg/h. Plasma morphine concentrations, physiological parameters, sedation and mechanical antinociception were evaluated during each infusion. Morphine was assayed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical coulometric detection and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Data were fitted to a bi-compartment model with a rapid distribution (<1 min for both doses) and slower termination rate. For the high and low doses, respectively, mean+/-SD terminal half-life was 38+/-5 and 27+/-14 min, apparent volumes of distribution at steady-state were 1.9+/-0.5 and 1.3+/-0.8 L/kg, with clearances of 50+/-15 and 67+/-20 mL/kg/min. Steady-state plasma concentrations ranged from 93 to 180 ng/mL and 45 to 80 ng/mL in the high and low doses, respectively. Respiratory rate increased significantly, pulse oximetry remained>95% and body temperature decreased significantly during both infusions. No vomition or neuroexcitation occurred. Sedation and mechanical antinociception were both mild during the lower infusion rate, and mild to moderate during the higher infusion rate. In conclusion, morphine pharmacokinetics was not altered by increasing infusion rates, producing stable, long-lasting plasma concentrations.

No abstract