Alpha 2 agonists and antagonists.
Abstract: The alpha 2 agonists can produce reliable dose-dependent sedation and analgesia in most species. Nevertheless, they can also produce significant physiological adverse side effects depending on dose, rate, route of administration, and the concurrent use of other CNS depressants. For this reason, it may be best to use a low dose of an alpha 2 agonist as a preanesthetic agent. The alpha 2 agonists are best suited for young, healthy, exercise-tolerant patients. The combining of low doses of alpha 2, opioid, and benzodiazepine agonists results in a synergistic CNS depressant response while minimizing the undesirable side effects of these three classes of drugs. Each group of drugs has specific antagonists available for their reversal, thus allowing veterinarians to reverse one or more of the agonists depending on the desired response. This may represent a significant advantage to the use of low-dose alpha 2 agonists in combination with opioids and benzodiazepines.
Publication Date: 1999-05-20 PubMed ID: 10332820DOI: 10.1016/s0195-5616(99)50058-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article investigates the impact of alpha 2 agonists in producing sedation and analgesia, their possible side effects, and their recommended dosage and administration. It further explores their combined use with other drugs, like opioids and benzodiazepines, and available antagonists for their reversal.
Understanding Alpha 2 Agonists
- Alpha 2 agonists are a class of drugs known for their potential to produce reliable, dose-dependent sedation and analgesia in many species.
- However, the study points out that these drugs can also lead to significant physiological side effects, in connection with factors like dosage, rate, route of administration, and the simultaneous use of other central nervous system (CNS) depressants.
Application and Target Audience
- Considering the potential adverse effects, the study suggests that it may be optimal to utilize a lower dosage of an alpha 2 agonist as a preanesthetic agent.
- Moreover, alpha 2 agonists are said to be best suited for young, healthy, and exercise-tolerant patients due to their impact on the CNS.
Combination with Other Drugs
- The research discusses how the combination of low doses of alpha 2, opioid, and benzodiazepine agonists results in a synergistic CNS depressant response.
- This combination is said to minimize the undesirable side effects generally associated with each of these three classes of drugs when used independently.
Availability of Antagonists
- The study presents the availability of specific antagonists that can reverse the effects of each group of drugs (alpha 2, opioids, and benzodiazepines).
- The ability to reverse one or more of the agonists depending on the desired response offers veterinarians a significant advantage, particularly when using low-dose alpha 2 agonists in conjunction with opioids and benzodiazepines.
Cite This Article
APA
Paddleford RR, Harvey RC.
(1999).
Alpha 2 agonists and antagonists.
Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 29(3), 737-745.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0195-5616(99)50058-2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Science, University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, USA. paddleford.robert@hospital.vet.utk.edu
MeSH Terms
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
- Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
- Anesthesia / veterinary
- Anesthetics, Combined
- Animals
- Cats
- Dogs
- Horses
- Imidazoles
- Medetomidine
- Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / physiology
- Xylazine
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Uney K, Yuksel M, Durna Corum D, Coskun D, Turk E, Dingil HB, Corum O. Effect of Xylazine on Pharmacokinetics and Physiological Efficacy of Intravenous Carprofen in Castrated Goats Kids.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 24;13(17).
- Amari M, Brioschi FA, Rabbogliatti V, Di Cesare F, Pecile A, Giordano A, Moretti P, Magnone W, Bonato F, Ravasio G. Comparison of two injectable anaesthetic protocols in Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) undergoing gonadectomy.. Sci Rep 2022 Sep 24;12(1):15962.
- Esmailinejad MR, Masoudifard M, Azari O, Sakhaee E, Ghalekhani N. Echocardiographic assessment of intravenous administration of medetomidine and xylazine hydrochloride at different sedative doses in one-humped camel calves (Camelus dromedarious).. Vet Res Forum 2022 Mar;13(1):39-46.
- Silva E, Schumacher J, Passler T. Castration of Dogs Using Local Anesthesia After Sedating With Xylazine and Subanesthetic Doses of Ketamine.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:478.
- Mehmood A, Abid S, Hejcmanová P, Asadi MA, Kabeer B, Jilani MJ, Bilal S, Ashraf MW. Comparison of physiological responses of Arabian striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena sultana) to effective immobilisations with ketamine-medetomidine and ketamine-xylazine in (semi-) captive conditions.. PeerJ 2019;7:e7326.
- Rowland AL, Navas de Solis C, Lepiz MA, Cummings KJ, Watts AE. Bone Marrow Aspiration Does Not Induce a Measurable Pain Response Compared to Sham Procedure.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:233.
- Aletti F, Gambarotta N, Penn AH, Ferrario M, Schmid-Schönbein GW. Heart period and blood pressure characteristics in splanchnic arterial occlusion shock-induced collapse.. J Clin Monit Comput 2017 Feb;31(1):167-175.
- Yaksh TL, Woller SA, Ramachandran R, Sorkin LS. The search for novel analgesics: targets and mechanisms.. F1000Prime Rep 2015;7:56.
- Penn AH, Schmid-Schönbein GW. Severe intestinal ischemia can trigger cardiovascular collapse and sudden death via a parasympathetic mechanism.. Shock 2011 Sep;36(3):251-62.
- Miño N, Espino L, Barreiro A. Effects of medetomidine on Doppler variables of major abdominal arteries in normal dogs.. Vet Res Commun 2008 Feb;32(2):175-86.
- Kaartinen MJ, Cuvelliez S, Brouillard L, Rondenay Y, Kona-Boun JJ, Troncy E. Survey of utilization of medetomidine and atipamezole in private veterinary practice in Q in 2002.. Can Vet J 2007 Jul;48(7):725-30.
- Zhang EP, Hoffmann F. Low-dose anesthesia for corneal transplantation in mice.. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2005 Jan;243(1):72-5.
- Lemke KA. Perioperative use of selective alpha-2 agonists and antagonists in small animals.. Can Vet J 2004 Jun;45(6):475-80.
- Sinclair MD. A review of the physiological effects of alpha2-agonists related to the clinical use of medetomidine in small animal practice.. Can Vet J 2003 Nov;44(11):885-97.
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