Dexdor

Dexdor is the brand name for dexmedetomidine, a sedative and analgesic agent used in anesthesia and critical care. It is a highly selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist that provides sedation and analgesia with minimal effects on respiration. Sedation produced by dexmedetomidine is often described as easily arousable, resembling natural sleep.

Dexdor is indicated for sedation of adult patients in the intensive care unit requiring mechanical ventilation and for short procedures where sedation is needed. It can reduce the need for opioids and is used as part of multimodal analgesia and sedation plans. It is given by intravenous infusion, typically as a continuous operation rather than a single bolus dose; loading doses are generally avoided because of the risk of rapid blood pressure drops and bradycardia. Dosing and duration depend on the country’s labeling and the clinical setting.

Pharmacokinetically, dexmedetomidine is primarily metabolized in the liver, with a distribution half-life of minutes and an elimination half-life around two hours, though the context‑sensitive half-time increases with longer infusions. Renal excretion plays a minor role. The drug’s pharmacologic profile supports hemodynamic stability in many patients, but it can cause bradycardia and hypotension; transient hypertension has been reported on initiation in some cases.

Safety and precautions include avoiding use in patients with high-grade AV block or significant bradyarrhythmias without a pacemaker, and caution in hepatic impairment. Monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory status is recommended, especially when dexmedetomidine is used with other sedatives or analgesics. The Dexdor brand is marketed in Europe and other regions; the molecule is also sold under other brand names in different markets, such as Precedex in some countries.