The liquid is colorless and transparent.

Composition
1 ml of the drug contains the active ingredient (mg):

dexmedetomidine hydrochloride - 0.5.
Excipients: sodium chloride, methylparaben, propylparaben, highly purified water.

Pharmacological properties
ATS vet classification code QN05CM Other veterinary hypnotics and sedatives. QN05CM18 Dexmedetomidine.

Dexmedetomidine is a strong, highly selective, broad-spectrum alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist. It inhibits the transmission of nerve impulses in adrenergic synapses due to competition with norepinephrine.

The drug inhibits the central nervous system and increases the pain threshold in animals. The effect depends on the dose: small doses give a moderate sedative effect without analgesia, large doses - a pronounced sedative effect with analgesia.

After injection, dexmedetomidine is well absorbed, quickly distributed in the body and easily overcomes the blood-brain barrier. The maximum concentration of the drug in the blood is achieved in 15-30 minutes. More than 90% binds to plasma proteins. The half-life in dogs is 40-50 minutes, in cats - 60 minutes. Metabolized in the liver and excreted mainly by the kidneys.

Application
It is used in dogs and cats for sedation and analgesia during surgeries, clinical examinations and manipulations, to calm animals and prevent their aggressive behavior.

It is used for premedication during general anesthesia.

Dosage
The drug is administered to dogs intravenously or intramuscularly, to cats - only intramuscularly.

Animals with a large body weight are given a solution containing 0.5 mg/ml dexmedetomidine, small animals - a solution containing 0.1 mg/ml dexmedetomidine

To obtain a 0.1 mg/ml solution, immediately before administration, mix 1 ml of the drug with 4 ml of Ringer's solution or 0.9% sodium chloride solution or water for injection in a sterile syringe. The resulting solution should be transparent without mechanical inclusions.

The dose of the drug depends on the desired effect, individual characteristics and breed of the animal. Usually, small breed dogs require a larger dose than large breed dogs.

The use of dexmedetomidine for premedication significantly reduces the amount of the drug required to induce anesthesia, so intravenous anesthetics should be administered carefully and the animal's condition should be closely monitored. The amount of inhalation anesthetics to maintain the state of anesthesia is also reduced.

For sedative and analgesic effect, a solution of the drug containing 0.1 mg/ml dexmedetomidine is used in the following doses: dogs - 0.5-2 ml per 10 kg of body weight; cats - 0.5 ml per 1 kg of body weight; a drug containing 0.5 mg/ml dexmedetomidine is used in the following doses: dogs - 0.1-0.8 ml per 10 kg of body weight, cats - 0.1 ml per 1 kg of body weight.

For dogs, dexmedetomidine doses are calculated depending on the body surface area (mcg/m2): intravenously - up to 375 mcg/m2, intramuscularly - up to 500 mcg/m2.

When administered with butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg body weight) for deep sedation and analgesia, the intramuscular dose of dexmedetomidine is 300 mcg/m2 of body area. The premedication dose is 125-375 mcg/m2 of body area. This dose is administered 20 minutes before anesthesia. The dosage should be adjusted depending on the type of surgery, the duration of the procedure, and the temperament of the animal.

The combination of dexmedetomidine and butorphanol causes a sedative and analgesic effect 15 minutes after administration, reaching a maximum after 30 minutes. The sedative effect lasts for 120 minutes after administration, the analgesic effect - for 90 minutes. Complete recovery of the animal occurs after 3 hours.

Premedication with dexmedetomidine significantly reduces the dose of inhalation anesthetics to maintain anesthesia. When anesthetized with propofol and thiopental, dexmedetomidine reduces their doses by 30% and 60%, respectively. Dexmedetomidine promotes postoperative analgesia for another 0.5-4 hours, but this period depends on a number of factors, and the next dose of analgesics should be administered in accordance with the clinical assessment of the animal's condition.

When administering small volumes of the drug, it is recommended to use a calibrated syringe for more accurate dosing.
Doses of dexmedetomidine for cats are calculated in mcg per kg of animal weight.

For minor manipulations, as well as procedures and examinations that require fixation, sedation and pain relief, the dose of dexmedetomidine for cats is 40 mcg per 1 kg of body weight, which is equivalent to 0.4 ml per 1 kg of body weight of Dexmedison solution containing dexmedetomidine 1 mg / ml or 0.08 ml / kg of body weight of Dexmedison solution containing dexmedetomidine 0.5 mg / ml. When using the drug for anesthesia together with propofol, the dosage of the latter is reduced by 50%. All anesthetics for induction or maintenance of anesthesia should be administered in quantities 

e, necessary to achieve the effect.

Anesthesia can be induced 10 minutes after intramuscular administration of ketamine to cats at a dose of 5 mg / kg or intravenous administration of propofol.
The sedative and analgesic effect of the drug occurs 15 minutes after administration and lasts up to 60 minutes. To maintain the sedative and analgesic effect, the drug can be re-administered 10-15 minutes after the first administration. The dose of repeated administration is determined by a veterinarian taking into account the condition of the animal.

Contraindications
Do not use in animals:

with increased sensitivity to the components of the drug, with severe systemic diseases, heart failure and impaired liver and kidney function, pregnant, lactating, exhausted or weakened, as well as productive animals;
dogs and cats that are tired or in shock, stressed (due to heat, frost);
dogs up to 4 months of age and cats up to 3 months of age.
Warnings
Side effects
Immediately after administration of the drug, blood pressure may decrease, which then returns to normal or slightly lower values. Heart rate, respiratory rate and hypothermia may decrease.

Vomiting may occur 5-10 minutes after administration or during recovery of consciousness.

Sometimes pallor and/or cyanosis of the mucous membranes are observed. In cats, drying of the mucous membrane of the eyes and cornea is often possible.

Muscle tremors are possible during sedation, occasionally - corneal opacity, pulmonary edema.

When using the drug for premedication in dogs, bradypnea, tachypnea and vomiting are possible. Bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia may also occur, including deep sinus bradycardia, AV block (I and II degrees) and sinus arrest. Premature supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles, sinus node pause, and grade III AV block are occasionally observed.

When the drug is used for premedication in cats, vomiting or vomiting urges, pale mucous membranes, and decreased body temperature are possible. With intramuscular administration at a dose of 40 mcg/kg (followed by ketamine or propofol), sinus bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia often occur, sometimes grade I AV block, and occasionally - premature supraventricular depolarization, atrial bigominy, grade II pause, or delayed ventricular contractions.

With the simultaneous administration of ketamine to cats at a dose of 10 mg per 1 kg of body weight and dexmedetomidine at a dose of 40 mcg per 1 kg of body weight, tachycardia may develop.

When Dexmedison and ketamine are administered 10 minutes apart in cats, AV block or extrasystole may occur. Bradypnea, hypoventilation, and apnea are expected. Hypoxemia has been reported, especially during the first 15 minutes of dexmedetomidine-ketamine anesthesia. Vomiting, decreased body temperature, and agitation may occur after such procedures.

When Dexmedison and butorphanol are administered simultaneously in dogs, bradypnea, tachypnea, irregular breathing (apnea for 20-30 seconds followed by several rapid breaths), hypoxemia, muscle seizures or tremors, agitation, increased salivation, sudden awakening, or prolonged sedation may occur. Bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia with possible sinus bradycardia, AV block grades I and II, sinus node arrest or pause, as well as premature atrial, supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles are possible.

Special reservations for use
Before administering the drug, a thorough clinical examination of the animal must be carried out and it must not be fed for 12 hours. Access to water must not be limited.

After administering the drug, the animal must be kept in a warm room at a constant temperature - both during the procedure and during recovery. The animal can be fed and/or watered only after the swallowing reflex has resumed. Excited or aggressive animals must be calmed before administering the drug. Any procedures should be started after sedation has reached its maximum (10-30 minutes after injection), which depends on the route of administration.

It is necessary to monitor the respiratory and cardiac activity of the animal, since pulse oximetry is often not an objective enough monitoring method. When sequentially using dexmedetomidine and ketamine to induce anesthesia in cats, it is recommended to have equipment for manual ventilation of the lungs in case of respiratory depression or apnea, as well as oxygen in case of suspected or detected hypoxemia.

It is necessary to observe the dosage and frequency of administration of the drug.

Use during pregnancy, lactation
Do not use in pregnant and lactating animals.

Interaction with other drugs and other forms of interaction
The drug enhances the effect of drugs that depress the nervous system, therefore, it is necessary to take into account the specific action of each of them and adjust their doses.

Caution should be used in combining anticholinergic drugs with dexmedetomidine