Which of the following would provide longer-acting pain relief in mice?

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

Answer: (A)

Duration of pain relief in mice depends on how long the drug stays active in the body and continues to blunt pain pathways. Carprofen, an NSAID, tends to provide longer-lasting analgesia in mice because its pharmacokinetic profile yields a longer duration of effective COX inhibition after a single dose. This means prostaglandin production remains suppressed for a longer period, giving sustained relief.

In contrast, buprenorphine, while potent, usually delivers analgesia for a shorter window in mice and can be more variable between individuals. The other NSAIDs listed (meloxicam and ketoprofen) also provide useful analgesia but typically require more frequent dosing or have a shorter duration at common analgesic doses in mice. Therefore, carprofen is the option associated with longer-acting pain relief.