Sedation and premedication Flashcards
Define premedication
Administration of medication prior to anaesthesia:
- facilitate/improve peri-anaesthetic period
- long acting drugs may span the whole period
- animals should be maintained under observation
Aims of premed
Reduce anxiety Facilitate handling Peri-operative analgesia Facilitate smooth anaesthetic induction, maintenance and recovery Reduce dose (anaesthetics) Reduce risks of specific complications
Why are anti-cholinergics used a premeds?
Less commonly nowadays but to reduce secretions. Also: used when there was:
- increased vagal tone
- vagomimetic drugs (opioids)
- ressuscitation
- adjuncts to antagonism of mm blockers
Major effects - anticholinergics - 5
Increased HR Bronchodilation Decreased secretions (more viscous) Mydriasis Reduced GIT motility
2 examples - anti-cholinergics
ATROPINE: crosses BBB (remember rabbits have atropine esterase)
GLYCOPYRROLATE: lower magnitude increase in HR (than atropine), longer acting (1 hour), not licensed in animals
Define anxiolytic
calming effect, less interest in environment, still aroused by stimuli, AKA tranquilisers/nebulisers (not same but often used interchangeably)
Define sedative
calming effect, less responsive to stimuli, sleepiness, may also be analgesics
Define narcosis
drug-induced sleep, not easily aroused
Define hypnosis
artificially-induced sleep, broader meaning
List the 5 classes of sedatives
Phenothiazines Butyrophenones Benzodiazepines Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists (opioids?)
Describe phenothiazines
Highly protien bound (>90%) Lipophilic (cross placenta and BBB) Hydrophilic (IM absorption) Hepatic metabolism Excretion - urine and bile
Effects - Phenothiazines -8
CALMING - main reason for use, blocks CNS dopamine-R
POTENTIATE CNS DEPRESSION (of other drugs): opioids, anaesthetics
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL EFFECTS - high doses
PERIPHERAL VASODILATION: blocks alpha-1 adrenergic receptors
ANTI-EMETIC EFFECT: inhibits CRTZ
ANTI-HISTAMINE EFFECTS: blocks H1 receptor
ANTI-MUSCARINIC EFFECTS: antispasmodic in GIT
HYPOTHERMIA: depression of thermoregulatory centre, increased vasodilation –> heat loss
List 3 examples of phenothiazines
ACEPROMAZINE (ACP)
PROMETHAZINE
CHLORPROMAZINE
Which phenothiazine is the only phenothiazine licensed in animals?
Acepromazine (ACP)
When is promethazine used?
ACTIONS:
anti-histamine
For nausea, vomiting, motion sickness (human)
Advantages - acepromazine -3
- Anxiolytic (low dose) OR sedative (higher dose)
- Anti-arrhythmic: reduce SNS activity, membrane stabilising effects (LA effect), blockade of cardiac alpha adrenergic receptors
- PO administration - variable absorption
Disadvantages - acepromazine - 12
HYPOTENSION - blocks alpha 1 adrenergic receptors, suppresses SNS
SYNCOPE - due to hypotension and bradycardia, brachycephalics more susceptible (naturally high vagal tone and upper airway obstruction)
CARDIAC SPHINCTER RELAXATION: anti-muscarinic effect –> increases risk of reflux and regurgitation
DECREASED PCV and TS - due to splenic sequestration OR vasodilation causing an increased intravascular space volume with consequent RBC dilution
LATE ONSET OF ACTION
LARGER ANIMALS MORE SENSITIVE
CONCOMITANT USE OF ADRENALINE - ACP blocks alpha1 receptors –> vasodilation. Adrenaline may lead to unopposed beta2 activity –> vasodilation.
(SEIZURE THRESHOLD - reduced)
ANTI-THROMBOTIC - due to decreased platelet count, inhibit aggregation, transien
AVOID USE PRIOR TO INTRADERMAL SKIN TESTING
MAY POTENTIATE EFFECTS OF ORGANOPHOSPHATES
RELAXATION OF RETRACTOR PENIS MUSCLE IN HORSES
When should you avoid acepromazine?
Age extremes (BP regulation problems) Renal/hepatic disease Hypovolaemia/most shock states Brachycephalics Breeding stallions
Where do BUTYROPHENONES work?
Same receptors as Phenothiazines - but degree of localisation on specific receptors is variable. They have a sedative action due to dopamine antagonism. Also has anti-emetic properties and causes vasodilation and hypotension.
When are butyrophenones used?
Pigs, healthy animals
Sedation and behavioue modification
Pharmacodynamics - azaperone
Peak sedation in 15-30 mins (IM)
Sedation duration 2-3 hours
Decrease HR, CO, ABP
Impaired thermoregulation