Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics
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J. Vet. Pharmacol. Ther. · Feb 2000
Correlation between serum concentrations following continuous intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine or medetomidine in cats and their sedative and analgesic effects.
Dexmedetomidine (DEX) may have some therapeutic advantages over the racemate medetomidine (MED). Here we have examined how serum concentrations of DEX correlate with some of its anaesthetic effects. Cats (n = 6) were administered with a continuous stepwise intravenous (i.v.) infusion of DEX or MED on different occasions in a cross-over design. ⋯ Muscular relaxation was not dose-dependent. We conclude that increasing the blood concentration of DEX or MED beyond a certain level decreases the level of sedation instead of increasing it even though analgesia increases. The rate at which DEX and MED are metabolized in cats may not be the same.