Pharmacokinetic, Clinical, and Myeloid Marker Responses to Acepromazine Sedation in Arabian Camels

Abstract

Sedatives and tranquilizers are important in the control of excited camels during camel transport. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical sedation of camels with acepromazine and its correlation with pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The sedation score, heart rate, respiration, body temperature, and pharmacokinetics were monitored before and after acepromazine injection, and myeloid marker expression was analyzed using membrane immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The distribution (t1/2α) and elimination (t1/2β) half-lives were 0.1 and 9.4 h, respectively. The volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) was 20.01 L/kg, and the mean residence time (MRT) was 12.25 h. Sedation started rapidly within 10 min followed by persistent low-medium sedation for 2 h with an average sedation score of 1.2 ± 0.61, which might be associated with a slow elimination phase and prolonged MRT. Compared to horses, camels showed a lower clearance rate, higher volume of distribution, and higher elimination half-life. Slight changes in body temperature and heart and respiratory rate, as well as a lower hematocrit and changes in blood cell composition, suggest the careful application of acepromazine in animals with abnormal blood parameters or poor vital conditions.

A highly efficient and portable laser-scribed graphene-based electrochemical system for forensic-oriented determination of acepromazine

“…[3][4][5] Meanwhile, a case report showed that ACP overdose resulted in several effects on the human central nervous system and cardiovascular toxicity, as well as causing conditions including central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, and hypotension, which are similar to other phenothiazines. [6][7][8] According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), acepromazine is only approved for use in animals such as dogs (0.25-0.5 mg per lb of body weight), cats (0.5-1 mg per lb of body weight), and horses (2-4 mg/100 lb of body weight), and the dosage can be given intravenously, intramuscularly or subcutaneously. 9,10 The illicit use of ACP, such as drug-facilitated sexual assaults, has been reported in the literature 2 due to the difficulty in detecting this drug since it is metabolized rapidly and extensively in the body.…”