Drug Groups

approved

Description

An agonist of receptors, adrenergic alpha-2 that is used in veterinary medicine for its analgesic and sedative properties. It is the racemate of dexmedetomidine. [PubChem]

Indication

For sedation of initially intubated and mechanically ventilated patients during treatment in an intensive care setting, also used in pain relief; anxiety reduction and analgesia

Pharmacology

Dexmedetomidine activates 2-adrenoceptors, and causes the decrease of sympathetic tone, with attenuation of the neuroendocrine and hemodynamic responses to anesthesia and surgery; it reduces anesthetic and opioid requirements; and causes sedation and analgesia.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

Hepatic

Half Life

2 hours

Protein Binding

94%

Elimination

A mass balance study demonstrated that after nine days an average of 95% of the radioactivity, following intravenous administration of radiolabeled dexmedetomidine, was recovered in the urine and 4% in the feces. Fractionation of the radioactivity excreted in urine demonstrated that products of N-glucuronidation accounted for approximately 34% of the cumulative urinary excretion. The majority of metabolites are excreted in the urine.

Distribution

* 118 L

Clearance

* 39 L/h [Healthy volunteers receiving IV infusion (0.2-0.7 mcg/kg/hr)]

External Links