Dexdomitor: Veterinary Drug

Dexdomitor is used to sedate dogs and cats. Dexdomitor contains dexmedetomidine, which belongs to a class of drugs having a sedative action. Dexdomitor is a solution for injection (0.5 mg/ml). Dexdomitor is used to sedate dogs and cats in the following situations:

• when carrying out mildly to moderately painful procedures and examinations that require the animal to be restrained or sedated, and made less sensitive to pain. Dexdomitor is used in non-invasive procedures,

• before inducing general anaesthesia. When used in cats, ketamine should be used as the anaesthetic agent,

• for deep sedation and analgesia in dogs in combination with butorphanol for procedures including minor surgery.

The dose is chosen according to which species being treated, what it is being used for, whether it is injected into a vein or a muscle and any other medicines that are also being used.

The dose depends on the body surface area in dogs (caluclated using body weight) and body weight in cats.

In dogs, Dexdomitor is given by intravenous (into a vein) or intramuscular (into a muscle) injection.

In cats, Dexdomitor is given by intramuscular injection.

The duration and depth of sedation and analgesia depend on the dose that is used.

The studies showed that Dexdomitor had an equivalent level of effectiveness as medetomidine in inducing sedation and analgesia in dogs and cats.

DEXDOMITOR SIDE EFFECTS

Dexdomitor causes a decrease in heart rate and body temperature. In addition, the blood pressure will increase before returning to normal or below normal. In some dogs and cats, there may be a decrease in breathing rate and the mucous membranes may appear pale or with a blue tinge. Vomiting may occur five to 10 minutes after injection or at the time of recovery.

Muscle tremors (shaking) and corneal opacities (cloudy spots in the cornea, the clear part of the eye in front of the pupil) may occur during sedation. Other Dexdomitor side-effects can occur when it is used with other drugs. For a full list of all side-effects reported with Dexdomitor, see the Package Leaflet.

Dexdomitor should not be used in animals that have problems with their heart or blood vessels, with severe systemic (whole-body) disease, that are moribund (close to death) or that are known to be hypersensitive (allergic) to dexmedetomidine or any of the other ingredients.

The safety of the use of Dexdomitor has not been studied in puppies below 16 week of age or in kittens below 12 weeks of age.

DEXDOMITOR: PRECAUTIONS FOR HUMANS

If Dexdomitor is accidentally self-injected or taken by mouth, seek medical advice immediately and show the Package Leaflet or the label to the doctor. However, do not drive due to the risk of sedation and changes in blood pressure. Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or mucosa (moist body surfaces). If contact does occur, rinse with large amounts of water. The use of waterproof gloves is advisable. Pregnant women should take special care to avoid selfinjection. People who are known to be hypersensitive to dexmedetomidine or any of the other ingredients should give the medicine with caution.

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