| Item |
Information |
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Drug Groups
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approved |
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Description
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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 |
| • |
Humans and other mammals |
|
| 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 |
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