Compartmental and noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analyses of minocycline hydrochloride in the dog.

Six adult dogs were given 5 mg of minocycline hydrochloride/kg of body weight IV. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of the serum drug concentration versus time data was performed, using the 2-compartment open model, the 3-compartment open model, and a noncompartmental model involving use of the statistical moment theory. All pharmacokinetic values except clearance were model independent. Minocycline half-life ranged between 6.48 and 7.24 hours; volume of distribution at steady state, between 1.859 +/- 0.368 and 2.001 +/- 0.468 L/kg; and clearance, between 3.195 +/- 0.618 and 3.424 +/- 0.684 ml/min/kg. These data are similar to those reported for oxytetracycline and indicate that the frequency of administration of the 2 tetracyclines should be the same. Three of the 6 dogs developed an adverse response to the IV injection of minocycline. Dog 1 developed urticaria and had initial serum drug concentrations of approximately 2 times the mean concentrations for the other dogs; values were not included in the pharmacokinetic analysis. Two other dogs had transient signs indicating cardiovascular depression or hypotension; their data were included. Due to the frequency of the unexpected reactions found in this study, it was concluded that dogs should not be given minocycline rapidly IV.