DEXMEDETOMIDINE

Course overview

THE FDA-APPROVED INDICATIONS FOR DEXMEDETOMIDINE ARE SEDATION OF INTUBATED AND MECHANICALLY VENTILATED PATIENTS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU) AND PERI-PROCEDURAL (OR PERI-OPERATIVE) SEDATION OF NON-INTUBATED PATIENTS. OVER TIME, USAGE HAS EXPANDED TO OFF-LABEL USES, INCLUDING TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF DELIRIUM, ADJUNCTIVE ANALGESIA, THERAPY FOR INSOMNIA IN THE ICU, AND TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL. DEXMEDETOMIDINE HAS ALSO BEEN USED IN PERIPHERAL NERVE BLOCKS TO PROLONG THE DURATION OF ANALGESIA. THIS ACTIVITY WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILE, PHARMACOLOGY, MONITORING, AND RELEVANT INTERACTIONS OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE, PERTINENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN TREATING PATIENTS WHERE ANESTHESIA IS APPROPRIATE.