Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and its major metabolite, florfenicol amine, in rabbits.

The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol and its active metabolite florfenicol amine were investigated in rabbits after a single intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration of florfenicol at 20 mg/kg bodyweight. The plasma concentrations of florfenicol and florfenicol amine were determined simultaneously by an LC/MS method. After i.v. injection, the terminal half-life (t(1/2lambdaz)), steady-state volume of distribution, total body clearance and mean residence time of florfenicol were 0.90 +/- 0.20 h, 0.94 +/- 0.19 L/kg, 0.63 +/- 0.06 L/h/kg and 1.50 +/- 0.34 h respectively. The peak concentrations (C(max)) of florfenicol (7.96 +/- 2.75 microg/mL) after p.o. administration were observed at 0.90 +/- 0.38 h. The t(1/2lambdaz) and p.o. bioavailability of florfenicol were 1.42 +/- 0.56 h and 76.23 +/- 12.02% respectively. Florfenicol amine was detected in all rabbits after i.v. and p.o. administration. After i.v. and p.o. administration of florfenicol, the observed Cmax values of florfenicol amine (5.06 +/- 1.79 and 3.38 +/- 0.97 microg/mL) were reached at 0.88 +/- 0.78 and 2.10 +/- 1.08 h respectively. Florfenicol amine was eliminated with an elimination half-life of 1.84 +/- 0.17 and 2.35 +/- 0.94 h after i.v. and p.o. administration respectively.