ELIMINATION OF DIAZEPAM AFTER INTRAVENOUS -INJECTION IN THE HORSE

Diazepam is used in veterinary medicine as sedative and pre-anaestheti c agent. This publication describes the plasma-concentration time curv e for diazepam and its metabolite in horses suffering from colic after intravenous application as pre-anaesthetic agent. Elimination half-li fe (t(1/2 beta)) after a dose of 0.05-0.08 mg/kg (30-50 mg Diazepam pe r horse) was 7.5 to 13.2 h. Total clearance (Cl-tot) between 1.86 and 3.44 ml/min/kg was detected and apparent volume of distribution in ste ady (V-diss) was 1.98 to 2.25 l/kg. Diazepam was still found in serum after 24 h. The metabolite oxazepam could be found in plasma. Its elim ination half-life was 14-16.5 hours.