Plasma pharmacokinetics of ranitidine HCl in foals

Plasma pharmacokinetics of ranitidine HCl were investigated after intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration of drug to six healthy foals. Twelve- to sixteen-week-old foals received 2.2 mg ranitidine/kg i.v. and 4.4 mg ranitidine/kg p.o. Concentrations of ranitidine were determined using normal phase high performance liquid chromatography. Plasma concentrations of ranitidine HCl declined from a mean of 3266 ng/mL at 5 min to 11 ng/mL at 720 min after administration. The profile of the plot of concentrations of ranitidine HCl vs. time was best described by a two-exponent equation for two foals; data for the remaining four foals were best described by a three-exponent equation. Mean values for model-independent values were: apparent volume of distribution (Vdss) = 1.46 L/kg; area under the curve (AUC) = 167,442 ng.min/mL; area under the moment curve (AUMC) = 18,068,221 ng.min2/mL; mean residence time (MRT) = 108.9 min; and clearance (Cl) = 13.3 mL/min.kg. Following p.o. administration, a two-exponent equation best described data for five foals; data for the remaining foal were best described by a three-exponent equation. Mean values of the pharmacokinetic values from the p.o. study include: AUC = 126,413 ng.min/mL; AUMC = 18,039,825 ng.min2/mL; mean absorption time (MAT) = 32.0 min; observed time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) = 57.2 min; maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax) = 635.7 ng/mL; and bioavailability (F) = 38%.