Medetomidine

Medetomidine In Dogs & Cats: Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Overview

• Agonists at peripheral and central alpha-2 adrenoreceptors produce dose-dependent sedation, muscle relaxation and analgesia.

Uses of Medetomidine

• Provides sedation and premedication when used alone or in combination with opioid analgesics.
• Medetomidine combined with ketamine is used to provide a short duration (20–30 min) of surgical anaesthesia.

Dose of Medetomidine in Dogs and Cats

Dogs, Cats:

Premedication:

• 5–20 μg (micrograms)/kg i.v., i.m, s.c. in combination with an opioid.
• Doses of 1–2 μg/kg i.v. can be used to manage excitation in the recovery period, although following administration animals must be monitored carefully.
• A continuous rate infusion of 2–4 μg/kg/h can be used to provide perioperative analgesia and rousable sedation, particularly when administered as an adjunct to opioid-mediated analgesia.

Side Effects of Medetomidine in Dogs and Cats

• Causes diuresis by suppressing ADH secretion.
• Transient increase in blood glucose by decreasing endogenous insulin secretion.so, it is not recommended in diabetic animals.
• Mydriasis and decreased intraocular pressure.
• Vomiting after i.m. administration is common.
• Spontaneous arousal from deep sedation following stimulation can occur with all alpha-2 agonists; aggressive animals sedated with Medetomidine must still be managed with caution.

Contraindications of Medetomidine in Dogs and Cats

• Do not use in animals with cardiovascular or other systemic disease.
• Use in geriatric patients is not advisable.
• Do not use in pregnant animals.
• Do not use when vomiting is contraindicated.
• Not recommended in diabetic animals.

Some Notes:

• When used for premedication, medetomidine will significantly reduce the dose of all other anaesthetic agents required to maintain anaesthesia.
• Drugs for induction of anaesthesia should be given slowly and to effect to avoid inadvertent overdose; the dose of volatile agent required to maintain anaesthesia can be
  reduced by up to 70%.
• Do not use in patients likely to require or receiving sympathomimetic amines.