The common practice of providing analgesia to rodents experiencing severe to moderate pain (as may be seen following laminectomy or other major surgery) with parenteral (IV, SC, IM) buprenorphine every 12 hours is not supported by the literature. Pharmacokinetic and behavioral observations indicate a much shorter effective period with redosing required at 3-5 hours in mice and 6-8 hours in rats. There are new alternative formulations of buprenorphine for extended provision of analgesia. The options include orally administered analgesia recipes you may make which provide 12-24 hours of analgesia and a sustained release injectable product which provides up to 72 hours of analgesia. Please contact DLAR Veterinary Staff for specifics and to design an analgesia protocol that is best for your research and the animal’s well-being.
Buprenorphine SR-LAB Administration Instructions
Buprenorphine SR-LAB does not need to be stored refrigerated. The 1 mg/ml Buprenorphine SR-LAB formulation will retain stability even without refrigeration. This formulation has been tested at room temperature for one year and has retained its stability and efficacy, while this is not true for the Buprenorphine SR-HCl formulated for other species where this formulation must be refrigerated to maintain stability and efficacy. However, the drug is viscous and more difficult to inject when cold. Prior to use the preparation should be warmed to room/ body temperature. The drug is hygroscopic (draws in moisture that causes polymerization). It should not be drawn into syringes and stored for periods of time as moisture in the air has been reported to result in precipitation and polymerization.
Due to its viscosity an 18-gauge needle should be used to draw-up Buprenorphine SR-LAB from its stock vial. A 1cc, Luer-lock type syringe is recommended to reduce the chance of syringe-needle hub leak/separation as a good “push” is required for injection.
To minimize the chance of reaction precise subcutaneous injection using the a 21 or 25-gauge needle should be used to reduce backflow from the injection track is recommended. The skin puncture site should also be gently pinched for 10 seconds following injection to assist sealing. Intradermal (ulceration) or injection into muscle tissue (increased blood levels) must be avoided. NOTE, there have been reports of skin irritation with prior formulations of Buprenorphine SR that has been rectified with the Buprenorphine SR-LAB formulation.
DLAR Veterinary Staff recommends Buprenorphine SR-LAB (1mg/ml) should be administered at the beginning of surgery. Anesthesia facilitates precise subcutaneous injection and allows time for the drug to reach therapeutic blood levels (30 min to one hour) before the animal would be perceiving pain.
Please contact the DLAR Veterinary Staff for further information and assistance with use of this product or additional questions.
Calculate Dosage by noting a dosage of normal Buprenorphine == (#) mg/kg X number of doses that would be given in 72 hours (for 3-day duration).
MOUSE DOSE 0.72 mg/kg to 1.44mg/kg Buprenorphine SR-Lab given once every 3 days (dose depending on pain severity).
*** i.e. for mouse given 0.05mg/kg q 5 hours=0.05mg/kg X 14.4=0.72 mg/kg of Buprenorphine SR Lab given by subcutaneous injection or for mouse given 0.1 mg/kg q 5 hours =0.1mg/kg X 14.4=1.44 mg/kg of Buprenorphine SR-Lab given by subcutaneous injection.
RAT DOSE 0.6 mg/kg Buprenorphine SR-Lab given once every 3 days
*** i.e. for rat given 0.05 mg/kg q 6 hours for 72 hours==0.05 mg/kg X 12==0.6 mg/kg of Buprenorphine SR-Lab given by subcutaneous injection. Based on the observation of pica behavior in some rats dosed at 1.2 mg/kg, the DLAR Veterinary Staff recommendations is to begin with a 0.6 mg/kg dose for initial treatment.
However, if indications of pain or distress are observed DLAR veterinarians should be contacted to evaluate the animal(s) and modify the analgesic dose/plan as needed.