Alpha-2 agonists as pain therapy in horses.
Abstract: Alpha-2 agonists, such as xylazine, clonidine, romifidine, detomidine, medetomidine, and dexmedetomidine, are potent analgesic drugs that also induce physiologic and behavioral changes, such as hypertension, bradycardia, atrioventricular block, excessive sedation and ataxia, all of which can potentially limit their systemic use as analgesics in some clinical cases. The use of medetomidine and dexmetomidine has been introduced for equine anesthesia/analgesia, and although not approved in this species, their increased specificity for alpha-2 receptors may offer some potential advantages over the traditional alpha-2 agonists. Similarly, other routes of administration and benefits of alpha-2 agonists are recognized in the human and laboratory animal literature, which may prove useful in the equine patient if validated in the near future. This review presents this relevant information.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2010-11-09 PubMed ID: 21056297DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2010.07.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research is based on the use of alpha-2 agonists, a group of drugs, as a possible pain remedy in horses. However, the drugs potentially cause side effects such as hypertension and excessive sedation, which might limit its use. Despite this, some alpha-2 agonists are seeing use in equine anesthesia and could potentially have advantages over traditional alternatives.
Alpha-2 agonists as potential analgesics
- The study primarily concerns the use of alpha-2 agonists as therapy for pain in horses. These compounds, including xylazine, clonidine, romifidine, detomidine, medetomidine, and dexmedetomidine, are powerful pain relievers.
- Alpha-2 agonists are not only recognized for their ability to numb pain, but they can also cause physiological and behavioral changes. These changes can be both positive and negative, depending on the situation.
Side effects of alpha-2 agonists
- One significant factor limiting the widespread use of alpha-2 agonists as systemic analgesics are some of the side effects associated with these medications. These include hypertension (high blood pressure), bradycardia (slow heart rate), atrioventricular block (a type of heart block), excessive sedation, and ataxia (lack of muscle control).
Usage in equine anaesthesia
- Some alpha-2 agonists, namely medetomidine and dexmetomidine, have made their way into the field of equine anesthesia and analgesia. Although these drugs are not yet approved for use in this species, thanks to their increased specificity for alpha-2 receptors, they might represent an upgrade over conventional alpha-2 agonists.
Scope for future applications
- The human and lab animal literature acknowledges other routes of administering alpha-2 agonists, and further benefits that could be potentially useful for horses. Future validation of these applications could pave the way for more optimal use of alpha-2 agonists in treating equine pain.
- This research paper aims to present all the relevant information and evidence regarding the use of alpha-2 agonists in treating pain in horses, in a bid to explore an alternative and potentially more effective mode of treatment.
Cite This Article
APA
Valverde A.
(2010).
Alpha-2 agonists as pain therapy in horses.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 26(3), 515-532.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2010.07.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, 50 Stone Road, ON, Canada N1G 2W1. valverde@uoguelph.ca
MeSH Terms
- Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
- Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology
- Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
- Analgesia / veterinary
- Analgesics / adverse effects
- Analgesics / pharmacology
- Analgesics / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Pain / drug therapy
- Pain / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- van Spijk JN, Beckmann K, Wehrli Eser M, Stirn M, Steuer AE, Saleh L, Schoster A. Preliminary Investigation of Side Effects of Polymyxin B Administration in Hospitalized Horses.. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 May 5;12(5).
- Marzok M, Almubarak AI, Babiker H, Kandeel M, El-Hawari SF, El-Khodery S. Comparative evaluation of sedative and anti-nociceptive effects of epidural romifidine, romifidine-lidocaine, and lidocaine in donkeys (Equus asinus).. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:966715.
- Fahim Safah A, Alwan Abid T. Effects of Ketorolac, Xylazine, and Bupivacaine Multimodal Analgesia on Goats.. Arch Razi Inst 2022 Apr;77(2):661-668.
- Abass M, Ibrahim H, Salci H, Hamed MA. Evaluation of the effect of different sedative doses of dexmedetomidine on the intestinal motility in clinically healthy donkeys (Equus asinus).. BMC Vet Res 2022 Jul 14;18(1):274.
- Ruíz-López P, Morgaz J, Quirós-Carmona S, Navarrete-Calvo R, Domínguez JM, Gómez-Villamandos RJ, Granados MM. Parasympathetic Tone Changes in Anesthetized Horses after Surgical Stimulation, and Morphine, Ketamine, and Dobutamine Administration.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 15;12(8).
- Gatis-Carrazzoni ASSG, Mota FVB, Leite TCC, de Oliveira TB, da Silva SC, Bastos IVA, de Souza Maia MB, Pereira PS, Neto PPM, de Oliveira Chagas EC, Silva TMS, do Nascimento MS, da Silva TG. Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the leaf methanol extract of Miconia minutiflora (Bonpl.) DC. and characterization of compounds by UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS/MS.. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2019 Jan;392(1):55-68.
- Carstensen H, Hesselkilde EZ, Fenner M, Loft-Andersen AV, Flethøj M, Kanters JK, Sattler SM, Tfelt-Hansen J, Pehrson S, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Time-dependent antiarrhythmic effects of flecainide on induced atrial fibrillation in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Sep;32(5):1708-1717.
- Aoki M, Wakuno A, Kushiro A, Mae N, Kakizaki M, Nagata SI, Ohta M. Evaluation of total intravenous anesthesia with propofol-guaifenesin-medetomidine and alfaxalone-guaifenesin-medetomidine in Thoroughbred horses undergoing castration.. J Vet Med Sci 2017 Dec 22;79(12):2011-2018.
- Pohl VH, Carregaro AB, Lopes C, Gehrcke MI, Muller DC, Garlet CD. Epidural anesthesia and postoperatory analgesia with alpha-2 adrenergic agonists and lidocaine for ovariohysterectomy in bitches.. Can J Vet Res 2012 Jul;76(3):215-20.
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