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Dexmedetomidine
- 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
- pharmacologypharmacology:
- mechanism: Dexmedetomidine is a specific and selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist. By binding to the presynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors, it inhibits the release if norepinephrine, therefore, terminate the propagation of pain signals. Activation of the postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors inhibits the sympathetic activity decreases blood pressure and heart rate.
- toxicity:
- absorprion:
- halflife: 2 hours
- roouteelimination: 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.
- volumedistribution: * 118 L
- clearance: * 39 L/h [Healthy volunteers receiving IV infusion (0.2-0.7 mcg/kg/hr)]