dexmedetomidine

Q: All of the following regarding dexmedetomidine is correct except?

A) Preserve muscle tone
B) Preserve respiration
C) Can be given intranasally
D) a weak analgesic
E) Fail to provide any amnesia


Answer: E

Dexmedetomidine is a sedative frequently used in ICU as an infusion and has many favorable characteristics like it preserves muscle tone and respiration (choices A and B). It also provides a little degree of analgesia (choice D). 

It is relatively a less known fact, though used frequently in pediatric population, it can be given intra-nasally effectively in a dose of  2 to 3 mcg/kg (choice C).

Dexmedetomidine provides amnesia (choice E) but should not rely on it as amnestic effect is very unpredictable.


#sedation
#pharmacology


References:

1. Yu Q, Liu Y, Sun M, Zhang J, Zhao Y, Liu F, Li S, Tu S. Median effective dose of intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation for transthoracic echocardiography in pediatric patients with noncyanotic congenital heart disease: An up-and-down sequential allocation trial.  Paediatr Anaesth. 2017 Nov; 27(11):1108-1114. 

2. Wu X, Hang LH, Wang H, Shao DH, Xu YG, Cui W, Chen Z.  Intranasally Administered Adjunctive Dexmedetomidine Reduces Perioperative Anesthetic Requirements in General Anesthesia. Yonsei Med J. 2016 Jul;57(4):998-1005.