Sedative effects of romifidine in the dog

Abstract

The sedative and physiological effects of intravenous romifidine at 0, 20, 40, 80 and 120 micrograms/kg were investigated in five clinically normal adult male beagle dogs in a blind study using a Latin square design. Following the injection of romifidine, the dogs became ataxic and stood with a wide-based stance, they exhibited signs of skeletal muscle relaxation and their heads were lowered. All the dogs became recumbent and there was a reduction in the heart and respiratory rates. Increasing the dose from 20 to 40 micrograms/kg, or higher, produced a significant reduction in heart rate. There was am increase in the sedation score following even low doses of romifidine, and although measures of sedation showed no differences among romifidine doses, subjectively, the higher doses produced a more consistent effect. Dogs given lower doses of romifidine regained a standing position more rapidly than following the higher doses, although this effect was not significantly different. A second blind study compared the sedative effects of intravenous romifidine, at 40 and 80 micrograms/kg, with medetomidine at 10 micrograms/kg in six adult beagles. The cardiopulmonary and sedative effects were not significantly different between all regimens, although medetomidine at 10 micrograms/kg appeared to be intermediate in effect between romifidine at 40 and 80 micrograms/kg. The sedative and physiological effects of romifidine in dogs appear to be similar to other alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists. Intravenous administration provided sedation which might be clinically useful.

Sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of three doses of romifidine in comparison with medetomidine in five cats

“…This result agrees with the results obtained by England and others (1992), Scrollavezza and Zanichelli (1993) and Hamm and others (1995) in horses, and by Vainio and others (1989), England and others (1996b) and Lemke (1999) in dogs, who reported that the degree of muscular relaxation induced by romifidine was similar to or slightly less than that induced by other α 2 -adrenoceptor agonists.…”

“…There have been several studies of its use in dogs (England and others 1996a, b, England and Hammond 1997, England and Thompson 1997, Lemke 1999, 2001, Pypendop and Verstegen 2001, Melissa and others 2002), but few reports of its use in cats (Gomez-Villamandos and others 1994, Verstegen and others 1995, Selmi and others 2004, Belda 2005). …”

The influence of route of administration upon the sedative effect of romifidine in dogs

“…There was no effect following placebo administration. These events were similar to those observed by England et al (1996b).…”

“…These adverse effects have been observed frequently and reported following administration of other a2 adrenoceptor agonists (Vainio 1989;England et al 1996b).…”

Romifidine or medetomidine premedication before propofol‐sevoflurane anaesthesia in dogs

“…Romifidine is an α 2‐adrenergic agonist sedative used in small animals, with similar sedative actions to other drugs of its pharmacological group (England et al. , 1996a).…”