Which analgesic would provide longer-acting pain relief in mice?

• A. Buprenorphine
• B. Carprofen
• C. Meloxicam
• D. Ketoprofen

Answer: (B)

Duration of analgesia hinges on how long a drug stays active in the body and continues to relieve pain. Carprofen tends to have a longer-lasting effect in mice because of its pharmacokinetic profile and sustained COX inhibition, which often allows once-daily dosing while maintaining analgesia.

In contrast, buprenorphine, though a strong analgesic, typically provides relief for a shorter period in mice and is limited by its duration of action as an opioid. Meloxicam and ketoprofen are effective NSAIDs as well, but their analgesic effects in mice may wear off sooner or require more frequent dosing in many protocols.

So, when aiming for longer-acting pain relief in mice, carprofen offers the longer window of analgesia among these options.