Pharmacokinetics of tramadol and its major metabolites following rectal and intravenous administration in dogs

Abstract

AIM: To compare the rectal and I/V administration of tramadol in dogs, to assess both its pharmacokinetic properties and absolute bioavailability.

METHODS: After rectal administration via suppositories and I/V injection of tramadol (4 mg/kg), the concentration of tramadol and its main metabolites, O-desmethyl-tramadol (M1), N-desmethyl-tramadol (M2) and N,O-didesmethyl-tramadol (M5), were determined in plasma, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A balanced cross-over study was used, involving six male Beagle dogs.

RESULTS: Plasma concentrations after rectal and I/V administration were fitted on the basis of mono- and bi-compartmental models, respectively. Following rectal administration tramadol was detected from 5 minutes up to 10 hours, in lesser amounts than M5 and M2, while M1 was detected in negligible amounts. Following I/V administration tramadol was detected up to 10 hours, M2 and M5 were detected at similar concentrations, and M1 was present at low concentrations. The area under the curve (AUC) of the three metabolites did not differ significantly after either route of administration of tramadol. The absolute bioavailability of tramadol via rectal administration was 10 (SD 4)%.

CONCLUSIONS: After rectal administration of tramadol suppositories, absorption of the active ingredient was rapid, but its metabolism quickly transformed the parent drug to high levels of M2 and M5.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In the dog, rectal pharmaceutical formulation of tramadol would have a different pharmacokinetic behaviour than in humans.

KEY WORDS::

• Tramadol
• metabolites
• bioavailability
• suppository
• intravenous

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr Valentina Andreoni (Veterinary Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Veterinary Hospital, UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland) for her excellent technical assistance. This work was supported financially by Athenaeum funds from the University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.