title: The effects of different loading doses of dexmedetomidine on sedation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dexmedetomidine is a useful sedative drug with various uses. We designed this study to investigate the clinical effects and complications of different loading doses, 0.5 and 1.0 µg/kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty six patients, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, who required elective and emergency operation under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to group L or group H. Group L received a loading dose of 0.5 µg/kg for 10 minutes while group H received 1.0 µg/kg. Bispectral index (BIS), systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and Ramsay score were recorded at T0 (before loading), TL (just after loading) and T10, 20, 30 (10, 20, 30 minutes after TL). Complications, drug use, lowest BIS and time to reach BIS 80 after termination of dexmedetomidine were recorded during this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group H, BIS value decreased significantly after TL compared to the baseline (T0), while in group L after T10. Between two groups, BIS values showed a significant differences only at T10, BIS of group H was lower than that of group L. Ramsay score showed no significant differences except in TL; the score of group L was significantly lower than that of group H. Other vital signs and complications showed a minimal differences between two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher loading dose (1.0 µg/kg) of dexmedetomidine can lead to faster sedation without any severe complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Conscious sedation; Dexmedetomidine
references.citation: Br Med J. 1974 Jun 22;2(5920):656-9
references.pmid: 4835444
references.citation: Dan Med J. 2012 May;59(5):B4458
references.pmid: 22549494
references.citation: Ann Pharmacother. 2007 Feb;41(2):245-52
references.pmid: 17299013
references.citation: Pharmacology. 2013;91(1-2):1-6
references.pmid: 23095710
references.citation: Urology. 2012 Jun;79(6):1214-9
references.pmid: 22656405
references.citation: Drugs. 2000 Feb;59(2):263-8; discussion 269-70
references.pmid: 10730549
references.citation: Anesthesiology. 2004 Nov;101(5):1066-76
references.pmid: 15505441
references.citation: J Clin Monit Comput. 2002 Jul;17(5):271-7
references.pmid: 12546259
references.citation: J Int Med Res. 2011;39(5):1890-9
references.pmid: 22117991
references.citation: Anesthesiology. 2000 Aug;93(2):382-94
references.pmid: 10910487
references.citation: J Clin Pharm Ther. 2012 Dec;37(6):698-703
references.pmid: 22650799
references.citation: Crit Care. 2000;4(5):302-8
references.pmid: 11056756
references.citation: J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2003 Oct;17(5):576-84
references.pmid: 14579210
references.citation: Korean J Anesthesiol. 2011 Dec;61(6):451-2
references.pmid: 22220219
references.citation: Anesthesiology. 1992 Dec;77(6):1134-42
references.pmid: 1361311
references.citation: Drugs. 2011 Jul 30;71(11):1481-501
references.pmid: 21812509
references.citation: Crit Care Clin. 2001 Oct;17(4):881-97
references.pmid: 11762266
references.citation: Anaesthesia. 1999 Feb;54(2):146-65
references.pmid: 10215710