Topic:Diazepam
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine medication that is sometimes used in equine medicine for its sedative, muscle relaxant, and anxiolytic properties. It acts on the central nervous system by enhancing the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which results in calming effects. In horses, diazepam may be used as a pre-anesthetic agent, to manage seizures, or to alleviate anxiety and stress-related behaviors. The pharmacokinetics, dosage, and administration routes of diazepam in horses can vary, and its effects may differ based on individual physiological factors. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the use, effects, and safety considerations of diazepam in equine practice.
Recovery from sevoflurane anesthesia in horses: comparison to isoflurane and effect of postmedication with xylazine. To compare recovery from sevoflurane or isoflurane anesthesia in horses. Methods: Prospective, randomized cross-over design. Methods: Nine Arabian horses (3 mares, 3 geldings, and 3 stallions) weighing 318 to 409 kg, 4 to 20 years old. Methods: Horses were anesthetized on three occasions with xylazine (1.1 mg/kg), Diazepam (0.03 mg/kg intravenously [i.v.]), and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg i.v.). After intubation, they were maintained with isoflurane or sevoflurane for 90 minutes. On a third occasion, horses were maintained with sevoflurane and given xylazine (0.1 mg/kg i.v.) when the vaporizer was tur...
Age-related changes in the pharmacokinetic disposition of diazepam in foals. To evaluate changes in the pharmacokinetic disposition of diazepam in foals from 4 to 84 days of age. Methods: 4 male and 2 female full-term mixed-breed foals. Methods: Diazepam terminal half-life, volume of distribution, clearance, free fraction, unbound volume of distribution, free clearance, peak desmethyldiazepam concentration, and area under the desmethyldiazepam concentration-time curve were determined after i.v. administration of 0.25 mg of diazepam/kg of body weight to foals at 4, 21, 42, and 84 days of age. Results: Disposition of diazepam was best described using a two-compartment mo...
Effects of sedation, anesthesia, and endotracheal intubation on respiratory mechanics in adult horses. To determine the effects of endotracheal intubation on respiratory mechanics during xylazine sedation and xylazine-diazepam-ketamine anesthesia in adult horses. Methods: 5 healthy adult horses. Methods: Measurements were derived from recordings of respiratory gas flow, and transpulmonary and transtracheal pressures. Total pulmonary resistance (RT) was partitioned into upper airway resistance (extrathoracic portion of trachea, larynx, pharynx, nasal cavity, nares; RUA) and lower airway resistance (intrathoracic portion of trachea, bronchi, bronchioles). Baseline measurements were obtained in un...
A comparison of romifidine and xylazine when used with diazepam/ketamine for short duration anesthesia in the horse. The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate sedation with intravenous xylazine (1.1 mg/kg bodyweight [BW]) versus intravenous romifidine (100 micrograms/kg BW) followed by induction of anesthesia with intravenous diazepam (0.04 mg/kg BW) and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg BW). Twelve healthy horses were used in a blinded, randomized, cross-over design. Heart rate, presence of 2nd degree atrioventricular heart blocks (2 degrees AVB), respiratory rate, arterial blood pressures, blood gases, packed cell volume, total serum proteins, and duration of anesthesia and recumbency were recorded. Inductio...
Evaluation of five common induction protocols by comparison of hemodynamic responses to surgical manipulation in halothane-anesthetized horses. To determine whether hemodynamic responses of halothane-anesthetized horses undergoing surgical procedures depended on anesthetic induction protocols used, and to determine whether hemodynamic responses to surgical manipulation could be detected. Methods: Prospective experimental study without controls. Methods: 36 clinically normal horses. Methods: Horses were allotted to 5 groups according to anesthetic induction protocol: acepromazine/guaifenesin/thiamylal, acepromazine/guaifenesin/ketamine, xylazine/guaifenesin/thiamylal, xylazine/guaifenesin/ketamine, and xylazine/diazepam/ketamine. Anest...
Effects of additional premedication on romifidine and ketamine anaesthesia in horses. The clinical and cardiorespiratory effects of premedication with acepromazine, butorphanol or diazepam in addition to romifidine before induction of anaesthesia with ketamine were studied in 6 horses on 4 random occasions. Administration of romifidine alone or in combination with butorphanol resulted in an increase in arterial blood pressure, accompanied by a significant decrease in heart rate with second-degree atrio-ventricular heart block. Induction of anaesthesia with ketamine returned the heart rate to baseline value, but the arterial blood pressure was significantly increased compared to...
Evaluation of pulse oximetry in horses surgically treated for colic. All 43 horses anaesthetised for colic surgery were premedicated with xylazine or diazepam. Anaesthesia was induced with guaifenesin and ketamine, horses were placed in dorsal recumbency and anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen and mechanical ventilation. Haemoglobin saturation readings (SpO2) were taken with a pulse oximeter and compared with computed haemoglobin saturation (SaO2) from arterial blood samples. Readings were taken over a range of SaO2 of 78-100%, mean arterial blood pressure ranged from 24 to 108 mmHg and PaO2 ranged from 53 to 490 mmHg. Analysis of 107 readings ...
Effects of diazepam, acepromazine, detomidine, and xylazine on thiamylal anesthesia in horses. The cardiorespiratory effects of thiamylal (10 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and the effects of preanesthetic medication with diazepam, acepromazine, detomidine, or xylazine administered prior to a thiamylal dosage of 6 mg/kg, IV, were evaluated in 6 adult horses. The quality of recovery from thiamylal anesthesia also was evaluated. Intravenous administration of thiamylal at a dosage of 10 mg/kg increased heart rate, systemic arterial, pulmonary artery, and central venous blood pressures, as well as cardiac output and arterial partial pressure of CO2 (PaCO2). The maximal rate of right ventricular ...
A comparison of drug binding sites on mammalian albumins. The fluorescent probes warfarin and dansylsarcosine are known to selectively interact with binding sites I and II, respectively, on human albumin. This paper investigates whether similar binding sites exist on bovine, dog, horse, sheep and rat albumins. Binding sites on albumins were studied by: (1) displacement of warfarin and dansylsarcosine by site I (phenylbutazone) and site II (diazepam) selective ligands; (2) the effects of non-esterified fatty acids (carbon chain lengths: C5-C20) and changes in pH (6-9) on the fluorescence of warfarin and dansylsarcosine; and (3) the ability of site sel...
A comparison of xylazine-diazepam-ketamine and xylazine-guaifenesin-ketamine in equine anesthesia. After sedation with xylazine (0.3 mg/kg intravenously [IV]), anesthesia was induced in six healthy horses with ketamine (2.0 mg/kg IV) and guaifenesin (100 mg/kg IV), diazepam (0.05 mg/kg IV), or diazepam (0.10 mg/kg IV). Anesthesia was maintained with halothane for 30 minutes. Heart rate, respiratory rate, direct arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gas, and pH measurements were made before, and at set intervals after, induction of anesthesia. Quality and characteristics of induction and recovery were evaluated objectively by an independent observer unaware of the protocol used. There were...
Pharmacological manipulation of sexual behaviour in stallions. Series of experiments and clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of psychoneurotropic agents on sexual behaviour of stallions. The benzodiazepine derivative, diazepam (Valium), effectively reversed experimentally suppressed precopulatory arousal and response. Diazepam treatment also blocked the negative effect of novel environment on sexual response. The dibenzazepines imipramine and clomipramine induced erection, masturbation, and ejaculation in the absence of a sexual stimulus.
Conditioned suppression of sexual behavior in stallions and reversal with diazepam. Sexual behavior dysfunction unaccompanied by detectable physical or endocrine abnormality is an important cause of reproductive failure among domestic stallions. Several authors have suggested that such dysfunction may be psychogenic, related to negative experience associated with intense handling and training. An experimental model of experience-related dysfunction was developed by exposing pony stallions to erection-contingent aversive conditioning. This resulted in rapid, specific suppression of sexual arousal and response similar to spontaneously occurring dysfunction. Subsequently, treatm...
Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of diazepam in horses. The cardiopulmonary, behavioral, and pharmacokinetic properties of diazepam were determined in horses. Heart rate, cardiac output, mean pulmonary artery, aortic and right atrial blood pressures, respiratory rate, and arterial pH and blood gas values did not change after IV diazepam (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mg/kg) administration. Increasing doses of diazepam resulted in signs of muscle weakness including fixed stance, muscle fasciculations of the head, neck, and thorax muscles, ataxia, and then recumbency. Dosages of diazepam exceeding 0.2 mg/kg produced mild sedation. Behavioral changes persisted ...
Stimulation of food intake in horses by diazepam and promazine. In two adult horses doses of 0.02-0.03 mg/kg diazepam, intravenously, increased 1 hr intake 54-75% above control levels. Intake was stimulated when the diet was a high grain, calorically dense one and also when the diet was a high fiber, calorically dilute one. Two young rapidly growing weanling horses showed an even more pronounced stimulation of intake. Following diazepam 1 hr intake was increased 105-240% above control lelvels. Promazine at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg also stimulated intake in adult horses, but not as markedly as did diazepam. A transquilizer and a neuroleptic appear to have a stim...
Clinical effect of buprenorphine or butorphanol, in combination with detomidine and diazepam, on sedation and postoperative pain after cheek tooth extraction in horses. The objective of this study was to compare effects of butorphanol (BUT) or buprenorphine (BUP), in combination with detomidine and diazepam, on the sedation quality, surgical conditions, and postoperative pain control after cheek tooth extraction in horses, randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups (BUT: = 20; BUP: = 20). A bolus of detomidine (15 μg/kg, IV) was followed by either BUP (7.5 μg/kg, IV) or BUT (0.05 mg/kg, IV). After 20 min, diazepam (0.01 mg/kg, IV) was administered and sedation was maintained with a detomidine IV infusion (20 μg/kg/h), with rate adjusted based on scores to ...