Disposition kinetics of meloxicam in goats following single intramuscular administration

Disposition kinetics of meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg) was studied following intramuscular administration in female Barberi goats. Meloxicam concentration in plasma was measured using HPLC assay and kinetic parameters were determined using PHARMKIT software. Semi-logarithmic plot of the observed plasma levels indicated that plasma levels data could be best fitted to one-compartment open model. The observed mean peak plasma concentration of meloxicam in goats was 0.94±0.03 µg.ml-1 at 120 min (2 h) which gradually declined to 0.16±0.08 µg.ml-1 at 18 h. Determination of different pharmacokinetic variables revealed that the value of Cmax was 0.84±0.01 µg/ml and Tmax was 105.43±10.89 min while the elimination half-life was 446.19±56.20 min, and bioavailability was almost 100 %. Based on the values of different PK determinants, the loading dose of meloxicam @ 1.12 mg/kg body weight may be used in goats by intramuscular route followed by the maintenance dose of 0.68 mg/kg body weight and be repeated at 12-hour interval.