Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of methadone administered intravenously and intramuscularly to isoflurane-anesthetized chickens

OBJECTIVE To determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of methadone after IV or IM administration to isoflurane-anesthetized chickens. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult Hy-Line hens. PROCEDURES In a randomized crossover-design study, methadone (6 mg/kg) was administered IV and IM to isoflurane-anesthetized chickens with a 1-week washout period between experiments. Blood samples were collected immediately before and at predetermined time points up to 480 minutes after methadone administration. Plasma concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and appropriate compartmen-tal models were fit to the plasma concentration-versus-time data. Cardio-respiratory variables were compared between treatments and over time with mixed-effect repeated-measures analysis. RESULTS A 3-compartment model best described the changes in plasma methadone concentration after IV or IM administration. Estimated typical values for volumes of distribution were 692 mL/kg for the central compartment and 2,439 and 2,293 mL/kg for the first and second peripheral compartments, respectively, with metabolic clearance of 23.3 mL/kg/min and first and second distributional clearances of 556.4 and 51.8 mL/kg/min, respectively. Typical bioavailability after IM administration was 79%. Elimination half-life was 177 minutes, and maximum plasma concentration after IM administration was 950 ng/mL. Heart rate was mildly decreased at most time points beginning 5 minutes after IV or IM drug administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Disposition of methadone in isoflurane-anesthetized chickens was charac-terized by a large volume of distribution and moderate clearance, with high bioavailability after IM administration. Additional studies are warranted to assess pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of methadone in awake chickens. (Am J Vet Res 2021;82:181–188).