Domitor is a potent alpha 2 -agonist which should be used with caution with other sedative or analgesic drugs. Additive or synergistic effects are likely, possibly resulting in overdose. Special care is recommended when treating very young animals and older animals. Incidents of prolonged sedation, bradycardia, cyanosis, vomiting, apnea, death from circulatory failure with severe congestion of lungs, liver, kidney and recurrence of sedation after initial recovery have been reported. Bradycardia with occasional atrioventricular blocks will occur together with decreased respiratory rates.
Body temperature is slightly or moderately decreased.
Urination typically occurs during recovery at about 90 to 120 minutes posttreatment. In target animal safety studies, medetomidine was tolerated in dogs at up to 5 times the recommended IV dose and up to 10 times the recommended IM dose. Repeated IV doses of 3 or 5 times the recommended dose caused a profound sedation, bradycardia and reduced respiratory rates over several hours, accompanied in some animals by occasional spontaneous twitching. Domitor should be administered at the rate of 750 mcg IV or 1000 mcg IM per square meter of body surface. Use the table below to determine the correct dosage on the basis of body weight.