The pharmacokinetics of atropine and diazepam in sheep: Intramuscular co‐administration

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the co‐administration of atropine and diazepam affect the rate and extent of absorption of either drug. A triple crossover pharmacokinetic study using adult sheep was conducted. Each of nine animals received single injections of atropine (2mg), diazepam (10mg), and a combination of the two compounds weekly over a 3‐week period. The combination of the drugs was injected into a single intramuscular site through a specially designed tandem syringe. Blood samples were obtained from time 0 to 300 min post‐injection. Serum samples were analyzed for atropine by radioimmunoassay and for diazepam by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated by non‐compartmental analysis. The co‐administration of atropine and diazepam intramuscularly in sheep caused a delay in the time to reach maximal concentration of atropine. However, at the time when a single injection of atropine reached its maximum serum concentration, 92 per cent of that concentration was reached by atropine in the presence of diazepam. Additionally, no difference was detected in the rate or extent of diazepam absorption when administered intramuscularly in combination with atropine at the same site.