Antagonistic effects of atipamezole on medetomidine-induced sedation in horses.
The antagonistic effects of atipamezole (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 micrograms/kg i.v.) on medetomidine (10 micrograms/kg i.v.)-induced sedation were evaluated in horses. Although 20 and 40 micrograms/kg of atipamezole were not sufficient to reverse the sedation, 60 micrograms/kg did effectively reverse the sedation. Atipamezole at 80 micrograms/kg was more potent, and significantly shortened the duration of sedation without any apparent side effects, but a higher dose of 100 micrograms/kg was not more effective than 80 micrograms/kg. The possible use of atipamezole as a reversal agent may enhance the value and availability of medetomidine as a chemical restraint agent in horses.
Department of Veterinary Surgery I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Hokkaido, Japan.
K
K
Yamashita
K
K
Yonezawa
Y
Y
Izumisawa
T
T
Kotani
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006736:Horses; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C050701:atipamezole; D020926:Medetomidine