Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Furosemide after Oral Administration to Horses

Furosemide is the most common diuretic drug used in horses. Furosemide is routinely administered as IV or IM bolus doses 3–4 times a day. Administration PO is often suggested as an alternative, even though documentation of absorption and efficacy in horses is lacking. This study was carried out in a randomized, crossover design and compared 8‐hour urine volume among control horses that received placebo, horses that received furosemide at 1 mg/kg PO, and horses that received furosemide at 1 mg/kg IV. Blood samples for analysis of plasma furosemide concentrations, PCV, and total solids were obtained at specific time points from treated horses. Furosemide concentrations were determined by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescent detection. Systemic availability of furosemide PO was poor, erratic, and variable among horses. Median systemic bioavailability was 5.4% (25th percentile, 75th percentile: 3.5, 9.6). Horses that received furosemide IV produced 7.4 L (7.1, 7.7) of urine over the 8‐hour period. The maximum plasma concentration of 0.03 |xg/mL after administration PO was not sufficient to increase urine volume compared with control horses (1.2 L [1.0, 1.4] PO versus 1.2 L [1.0, 1.4] control). There was a mild decrease in urine specific gravity within 1–2 hours after administration of furosemide PO, and urine specific gravity was significantly lower in horses treated with furosemide PO compared with control horses at the 2‐hour time point. Systemic availability of furosemide PO was poor and variable. Furosemide at 1 mg/kg PO did not induce diuresis in horses. Key words: Equine; Frusemide; Loop diuretic; Oral bioavailability.