Medetomidine

Medetomidine is a synthetic drug used as both a surgical anesthetic and analgesic often used as the hydrochloride salt medetomidine hydrochloride. It is a crystalline white alpha-two adrenergic agonist that can be administered as an intravenous drug solution with sterile water. It is currently approved for dogs in the United States, and distributed in the United States by Pfizer Animal Health and by Novartis Animal Health in Canada under the product name Domitor. Other alpha-two agonists used in veterinary medicine include xylazine and detomidine, but their use is less common in small animal surgery. The marketed product is a racemic mixture of 2 stereoisomers; dexmedetomidine is the compound with more useful effects, and is now marketed as Dexdomitor.