Alpha-2 agonists Flashcards
A2 adrenergic drugs - List of agonists
Xylazine - Detomidine - Dexmedetomidine - Romifidine - Clinidine
A2 adrenergic drugs - List of antagonists (reversals)
Yohimbe - Atipamezole (most A2 selective) - Tolazoline (least a2 selective)
Xylazine - species used, sensitivities
Best for horses, deer, elk - Sensitivity: Cattle > camelids > small ruminants > cat/dog/horse > Swine > Rodents (not used in dog/cats much)
Detomidine
Horses (sublingual gel option) & Cattle
Dexmedetomidine / Medetomidine
Dogs, cats, exotics
Romifidine
Horses (maybe less ataxia than with xylazine)
Clonidine
Humans for blood pressure
A2 agonists mechanism of action
G-protein coupled receptor activation - Reduce cAMP activity - Increase K+ efflux - Hyperpolarization - Decreased NE release
A2 receptor location
Throughout body: Pre & Postsynaptic (neurons & tissues) - Extrasynaptically in vasculature, platelets
A2 agonist effect on A1 receptors
Varying degrees of effects - Paradoxical excitement - A2:A1 selectivity is known for most drugs
A2 agonist & imidazoline ring
Most contain imidazoline ring (I2 receptors)
Different I receptors
I1 = blood pressure, I2= pain modulation, I3=insulin (no I2 activity with xylazine)
a2:a1 Selectivities : In order most selective to least
Dexmedetomidine > Romifidine > Detomidine > Xylazine
A2 agonist effects overview
Sedative - some muscle relaxation - mild analgesia - Biphasic CV effects - Mild respiratory depression (especially sheep) - Emetic in cats
A2 agonist sedation receptor location
a2 receptors in brain