title: Effect of romifidine and romifidine-butorphanol for sedation in dogs.
abstract: The sedative and physiological effects of intravenous romifidine at 120 micrograms/kg were compared with intravenous romifidine (120 micrograms/kg) followed immediately by intravenous butorphanol (0.1 mg/kg) in 18 clinically normal adult beagles in a blinded randomised change-over study. Following the injection of romifidine alone the dogs became recumbent and there was an increase in a subjective score awarded to the degree of sedation. Heart rate and respiratory rate decreased and minor bradyarrhythmias were noted. The romifidine-butorphanol combination produced a significant decrease in the time to the onset of sedation and increase in the sedative effect and duration of action compared with romifidine alone. With the exception of a further decrease in heart rate and respiratory rate, there were no additional side effects following the use of the romifidine-butorphanol combination. The marked sedative effect associated with this combination would appear to be useful in the clinical situation where an increased degree of sedation is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal and Equine Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: England
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D007093:Imidazoles; C076257:romifidine; D002077:Butorphanol