User:Mr. Ibrahem/Dexmedetomidine

Dexmedetomidine, sold under the trade name Precedex among others, is a medication used for procedural sedation or sedation in the intensive care unit. It results in mild to moderate sedation without much effect on breathing. It is used by intravenous infusion. Onset of effects may take 25 minutes.

Common side effects include low blood pressure, nausea, dry mouth, and an abnormal heart rate. Other side effects may include agitation, high blood sugar, increased body temperature, and decreased breathing. It works by blocking the α2-adrenergic receptors present in certain parts of the brain.

Dexmedetomidine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1999 and Europe in 2011. It is available as a generic medication. In the United Kingdom a 1 mg vial costs about £78 as of 2020. Veterinarians may use it for similar purposes in other animals.