Medetomidine is a synthetic drug used as both a surgical anesthetic and analgesic.
It was developed by Orion Pharma. It is 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.
Medetomidine is considered the most selective of all the α-2 agonists and is currently prepared only in formulations intended for zoo and wildlife species. It is available in highly concentrated injectable solutions (20 and 40 mg/mL, Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, Inc.); therefore it may be combined in darts with UPOs and other drugs intended for nondomestic ungulate and megavertebrate species. It has been replaced by dexmedetomidine in domestic dog and cat anesthesia, because medetomidine is currently no longer available in a small animal formulation.
Medetomidine is a commonly used supplemental drug combined with ketamine and other injectable anesthetic agents for use in great apes,22–24 nonhuman primates, and carnivores. Due to the large doses used in zoo and wildlife species, this drug must be considered dangerous in case of a significant accidental human exposure.
Atipamezole is the recommended antagonist for medetomidine in veterinary species.
It is more potent than Xylazine as well.
June 2024 – Alert from the NDEWS Web Monitoring Team: Reddit online mentions of Medetomidine
What is Medetomidine? Medetomidine, also known as “Domitor”, is a highly potent alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist primarily used as a veterinary sedative and analgesic. Medetomidine has a rapid onset of action and produces significant sedative, amnestic, and analgesic effects.
What was found? According to a May 2024 public alert from the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), medetomidine has been rapidly proliferating across the United States and Canada, being implicated in the recreational opioid drug supply and has been involved in outbreaks. The report notes that medetomidine has appeared as a fentanyl or heroin adulterant alongside other adulterants such as xylazine. The report notes that heightened sensation and profound bradycardia have been found as effects of recreational medetomidine use.
How is it being discussed? Online discussions on platforms like Reddit reveal that medetomidine is often used in combination with opioids for recreational purposes. Reddit users report that the drug’s potent sedative effects are an order of magnitude greater than those of xylazine. Some users mention that medetomidine may have reduced peripheral vasoconstriction and hypertension compared to xylazine. The combined CNS depression of a fentanyl-medetomidine mixture is highlighted by commenters as a major danger, potentially leading to severe respiratory depression and overdose. The discussion also notes that the potency difference between medetomidine and other sedatives like xylazine may not be well understood, leading to unintentional overdoses.
Drug Terms: Medetomidine, Domitor
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NFLIS Sept 2022 Reports an upward trend in Medetomidine submission between Sept 2020 and August 2022.
Local reports from law enforcement advised Medetomidine has been found in the drug supply in Maryland between Aug 2022 and Jan 2023
December 2022 NFLIS Snapshot Report – found specimens in the US.
March 2023 NFLIS Snapshot Report – found in combination with Xylazine.
May 2024 cfsre Alert – Medetomidine Rapidly Proliferating Across USA — Implicated In Recreational Opioid Drug Supply & Causing Overdose Outbreaks