Dexmedetomidine

Top Cited Papers
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
▴ Dexmedetomidine is a potent α2-adrenoceptor agonist with 8 times higher affinity for the α2-adrenoceptorthan clonidine. ▴ Dexmedetomidine has shown sedative, analgesic and anxiolytic effects after intravenous administration to healthy volunteers or postsurgical patients in the intensive care unit. ▴ Dexmedetomidine produced a predictable haemo-dynamic decline (dose-dependently decreased arterial blood pressure and heart rate) in postsurgical patients coinciding with reductions in plasma catecholamines. ▴ In phase III clinical trials, dexmedetomidine 0.2 to 0.7 µg/kg/h produced clinically effective sedation and significantly reduced the analgesic requirements of postsurgical ventilated intensive care unit patients. There was no clinically apparent respiratory depression after cessation of assisted ventilation. ▴ Dexmedetomidine produced rapid and stable sedation in postsurgical ventilated patients while maintaining a high degree of patient reusability and anxiety reduction. ▴ Dexmedetomidine was well tolerated in phase III studies. The most frequently observed adverse events were hypotension, bradycardia and nausea.