Anaesthetic Drugs

Question 1

For Acepromazine state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting

Answer 1

Dopamine receptor antagonist

1. IV/IM/SC/PO
2. 20-30 min/6 hrs
3. Attention with dogs with MDR/don’t give to boxers/priapism in stallions/seizures after high doses
4. Sedation without ataxia + priapism + NO analgesia/stabilises heart muscle (less arrhythmias)/Hypotension- a1 receptor blocker causing direct vasodilation/no lung effect/low temperature hypothermia/antiemetic effect

Question 2

For Azaperone state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting

Answer 2

Dopamine receptor antagonist

1. IM
2. 10 min/2-4 hrs
3. Only used in pigs
4. Sedation + NO analgesia/stabilises heart muscle (less arrhythmia) /hypotension a1-receptor blocker + direct vasodilation/no effect on lungs/hypothermia/antiemetic effect

Question 3

For Droperidol state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting

Answer 3

Dopamine receptor antagonist

1. IM
2. 10 min/2 hours
3. Restricted to dogs
4. Sedation + NO analgesia/ stabilises the heart muscle (less arrhythmia/hypotension - a1 receptor blocker causing direct vasodilation/ no effect on respiratory rate/hypothermia/antiemetic effect

Question 4

For Diazepam state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting

Answer 4

GABA agonist - benzodiazepine site
1. IV/IM/SC/Po or rectal (x10 dosage)
2. 1-3 min (IV) -30 min (PO)/45 min - 3h
3. Diazepam should always be given IV (solvent: propylenglycole)
4.
Brain - Anxiolytic, mild sedation, central muscle relaxation, paradoxic reaction in young and healthy animals -
Everything else - no effect

Question 5

For Midazolam state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting

Answer 5

GABA agonist - benzodiazepine site

1. IV/IM/SC/PO or rectal (10 x IV dosage)
2. 1-3 min (IV) - 30 min (PO)/45 - 3 h
3. Water soluble = IM/SC or as CRI
4. Brain - Anxiolytic, mild sedation, central muscle relaxation, paradoxic reaction in young and healthy animals

Question 6

For Zolazepam state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 6

GABA agonist - benzodiazepine site

1. IM
2. 3 min/30 min
3. Usually combined with tiletamine to form “Zoletil”
4. Brain - Anxiolytic, mild sedation, central muscle relaxation, paradoxic reaction in young and healthy animals

Question 7

For Flumazenil state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 7

GABA antagonist

1. IV
2. 2-5 min/1 h
3. Specific antagonist on benzodiazepine receptor and very expensive
4. Nothing given

Question 8

For Xylazine state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 8

a2 receptor agonist

1. IV/IM (3 x IV dose)
2. 1-3 (IV) - 30 min (IM)/30-45 min
3. Strong emetic within cats/Increases mortality in small animal anesthesia - hypertension followed by hypotension/Used within large animals
4. Heavy sedation + Analgesia + muscle relaxation/Heart - Bradycardia and AV block/Hypertension leading to norm-hypotension/Respiratory depression/Hypothermia/Emetics

Question 9

For Medetomidine state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 9

a2 receptor agonist

1. IV/IM: PO in an aggressive cat
2. 2 min (IV) - 10 min (IM)/30 min - 2h (dose dependant)
3. Most potent sedative for small animals/Hypertension followed by normotension/Not licensed for use in horses
4. Heavy sedation + Analgesia + Muscle relaxant/ Bradycardia + AV block/ Hypertension –> normo/hypotension/Respiratory depression/Hypothermia/Emetics

Question 10

For Dexmedetomidine state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 10

a2 receptor agonist

1. IV/IM
2. 2 min (IV) - 10 min (IM)/30 min - 2h
3. Less sedative effects than medetomidine but potent analgesic/hypertension followed by normotension/not licensed for horses
4. Heavy sedation + Analgesia + Muscle relaxant/ Bradycardia + AV block/ Hypertension –> normo-hypotension/Respiratory depression/Hypothermia/Emetics

Question 11

For Detomidine state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 11

a2 receptor agonist

1. IV/IM
2. 2 min (IV) - 10 min (IM)/1 hours (longer than Xylazine)
3. Less muscle relaxation (compared to Xylazine and medetomide (horses)/Small volume - easier to administer IM/ Colic horse (longer duration compared to Xylazine)
4. Heavy sedation + Analgesia + Muscle relaxant/ Bradycardia + AV block/ Hypertension –> normo-hypotension/Respiratory depression/Hypothermia/Emetics

Question 12

For Romifidine state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 12

a2 receptor agonist

1. IV/IM
2. 2 min (IV) - 30 min (IM)/2h (longest effect of all alpha 2 agonist)
3. Less muscle relaxation (very good for field sedation)/ attention - analgesia decreases before sedation/licensed for horses and dogs
4. Heavy sedation + Analgesia + Muscle relaxant/ Bradycardia + AV block/ Hypertension –> normo-hypotension/Respiratory depression/Hypothermia/Emetics

Question 13

For Atipamezole state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 13

a2 receptor antagonist

1. IM (IV only for emergencies)
2. 2 min/1 hr
3. Can be used to antagonise other a2 drugs - it is used specifically for medetomidine/can cause hypotension/careful use in horses
4. No side effects

Question 14

For Atipamezole state firstly state the class of drug and then:

1. The Route of Administration
2. Onset + Duration
3. Any general considerations
4. Side effects on brain, heart, vasculature, lungs, body temperature and vomiting (if given)

Answer 14

a2 receptor antagonist

1. IV
2. 3 min/ 1 h
3. specific antagonist on alpha-2 receptor - most often used to antagonise xylazine
4. No side effects