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The Safety and Effectiveness of Dexmedetomidine When Used for More Than 24 Hours in an Adult Intensive Care Setting

St John's University, Queens, New York

Matthew M. Lacroix, PharmD

St John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Queens, New York, Clinical Pharmacist Preceptor, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York, lacroixm{at}stjohns.edu

Dexmedetomidine is a new analgesic and anxiolytic used in the intensive care setting. It has been indicated for use for less than 24 hours to aid in intubation or extubation of a patient. The advantages for dexmedetomidine compared with propofol or benzodiazepines are that it has fewer sedating effects and a short half-life. Several retrospective studies and case reports have reported its use longer than the indicated 24 hours. They reported that dexmedetomidine is safe to use past the 24-hour indicated time of use, with the same or fewer adverse side effects reported.

Key Words: Dexmedetomidine • hypnotics and sedatives • non-narcotic analgesics • intensive care units • time factors • adult • humans.

Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 20, No. 6, 474-477 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0897190007311672


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