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A pilot study of transdermal gabapentin in cats
Jennifer E Slovak1, Ana P Costa2
1Animal Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Background:
Clinical use of gabapentin has increased; transdermal delivery in cats is incompletely studied.
Objective:
To evaluate if gabapentin permeates feline skin in vitro and in vivo and to determine if pain scores improve after administration.
Animals:
In vitro: cadaver skin from 6 cats; phase 1: 8 young, healthy client-owned cats; phase 2: 15 client-owned geriatric cats.
Methods:
In vitro, gabapentin applied every q12h to ear or cervical skin in diffusion cells. Samples collected at 0, 2, 4, 12, and 24 hours after application. Phase 1: Cats assigned to 1 of 4 groups: 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg applied q8h for 5 days to either ear or cervical skin. Serum samples collected predose, and after 1 and 5 days. Phase 2: 10 mg/kg applied q8h for 5 days. Two validated pain scores recorded predose, and after days 1, 5, and 8. Serum samples collected predose, and after days 1 and 5. Samples were frozen at -80°C for concentration analysis utilizing a validated high-performance liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry method.
Results:
Gabapentin was identified in all samples. Significant differences in gabapentin concentrations were observed from day 1 to day 5 (P < .02) and in pain scores from predose to day 5 (P < .05) and day 1 to day 5 (P < .05). No differences in pain scores were observed from predose to day 8 (P = .3).
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
Gabapentin in a transdermal base penetrates feline skin in vitro, is absorbed systemically in cats, and may help decrease pain scores.
