Flunixin is administered at a dose of 1.1 mg/kg.[1] The full analgesic and antipyretic effects usually occur 1–2 hours following treatment, but there is often an effective analgesic effect within approximately 15 minutes. Despite its shortplasma half life of 1.6–2.5 hours, effects can persist for up to 30 hours,[2] with maximal effects occurring between 2 and 16 hours. This is likely due to accumulation of the drug at inflammatory foci. Flunixin is primarily eliminated by the kidneys.[3]
Because it targets the inflamed tissue, flunixin is mainly used forcolic pain, musculoskeletal pain, and ocular pain.[4][5][6] It is also used as anantipyretic and to reduce the effects ofendotoxemia.[7]
Flunixin is labeled for no more than 5 days of consecutive use and prolonged use increases the risk of toxicity. In horses, this includesgastric ulcers,[8] right dorsal colitis,[9] andnephrotoxicity.[10]
Flunixin is a prohibited substance underInternational Federation for Equestrian Sports rules,[11] and its use is prohibited or restricted by many other equestrian organizations. At labeled dose (1.1 mg/kg) given IV, detection time was found to be 144 hours.[12] However, drug recycling from bedding contamination by treated horses has been shown to potentially increase the clearance time.[13]
Flunixin may be given orally as a paste, as granules in feed, or intravenously(IV). It is strongly recommended that it not be administered intramuscularly (IM) as it is very irritating to tissue and IM administration has been associated withmyonecrosis in horses,[14] so IV administration is preferred.
Administration ofphenylbutazone to a horse also receiving flunixin has been shown to increase the risk of toxicity without improving analgesia.[15][16] For this reason, concurrent administration with another NSAID is not recommended. Doubling the dose of flunixin produces no improvement in analgesia, while potentially increasing the risk of toxicity.[4]
In the US, the only labeled route for flunixin administration in cattle is intravenous and pour-on. This is not the case in other countries; for example, in the UK, Allevenix is licensed for IV and intramuscular use,[17] and a pour-on product also exists.[18]
In the US flunixin is not labelled for goat use, however, flunixin may be used in goats in an extra-label fashion under appropriate veterinary guidance. Flunixin administered subcutaneously to dairy goats may carry a milk withdraw recommendation of 36-60 hours.[19] Interestingly, when given subcutaneously to goats in that study, tissue injury, such as seen in horses with intramuscular administration, was not observed.
^May SA, Lees P (1996). "Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs". In McIlwraith CW, Trotter GW (eds.).Joint Disease in the Horse. Philadelphia: WB Saunders. pp. 223–237.
^Soma LR, Behrend E, Rudy J, Sweeney RW (November 1988). "Disposition and excretion of flunixin meglumine in horses".American Journal of Veterinary Research.49 (11):1894–8.doi:10.2460/ajvr.1988.49.11.1894.PMID3247913.
^Jochle W, Moore JN, Brown J, Baker GJ, Lowe JE, Fubini S, Reeves MJ, Watkins JP, White NA (June 1989). "Comparison of detomidine, butorphanol, flunixin meglumine and xylazine in clinical cases of equine colic".Equine Veterinary Journal. Supplement.21 (7):111–6.doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb05668.x.PMID9118091.
^Videla R, Andrews FM (August 2009). "New perspectives in equine gastric ulcer syndrome".The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine Practice.25 (2):283–301.doi:10.1016/j.cveq.2009.04.013.PMID19580940.
^Popot MA, Garcia P, Bonnaire Y (December 2011). "Doping control in horses: housing conditions and oral recycling of flunixin by ingestion of contaminated straw".Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.34 (6):612–4.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2885.2011.01276.x.PMID21995754.
^Peek SF, Semrad SD, Perkins GA (January 2003). "Clostridial myonecrosis in horses (37 cases 1985-2000)".Equine Veterinary Journal.35 (1):86–92.doi:10.2746/042516403775467513.PMID12553469.
^Reed SK, Messer NT, Tessman RK, Keegan KG (March 2006). "Effects of phenylbutazone alone or in combination with flunixin meglumine on blood protein concentrations in horses".American Journal of Veterinary Research.67 (3):398–402.doi:10.2460/ajvr.67.3.398.PMID16506899.
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