title: Reversal of medetomidine sedation by atipamezole in dogs.
abstract: Atipamezole reversed the sedative effect of medetomidine in twelve laboratory beagles. The dogs were sedated with medetomidine doses of 20, 40 and 80 micrograms/kg body wt i.m. Atipamezole was injected (i.m.) 20 min later at dose rates two, four, six and ten times higher (in micrograms/kg) than the preceding medetomidine dose. Placebo treatment was included in the study. The deeply sedated dogs showed signs of arousal in 3-7 min and took their first steps 4-12 min after atipamezole injection. The dose-related reversal effect of atipamezole proved to be optimal with doses which were four, six or ten times higher than the preceding medetomidine dose. Drowsiness was found 0.5-1 h after atipamezole injection in 41% of the cases. No adverse effects nor cases of over-alertness or excitement were found.
authors.affiliation: Farmos Group Ltd, Research Center, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vainio
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vähä-Vahe
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D020926:Medetomidine