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- Title
Is that for blood pressure or sedation? Increasing awareness of alpha-2 agonists in ICU.
- Authors
BAYLON, CECILIA; DESROSIERS, SARAH
- Abstract
The use of two alpha-2 agonist drugs, clonidine and dexmedetomidine, is increasing in the management of critically ill patients. Clonidine is typically indicated fo r the management of hypertension while dexmedetomidine is administered to patients for short-term sedation. When clonidine is given in conjunction with dexmedetomidine, it takes on the role of delirium management in the intensive care unit, which is different from its original indication. This role diversity confounds our understanding of their functions and benefits, compared to drugs that act on alpha-1 and beta receptors, which have well-defined hemodynamic effects (Philipp, Brede, & Hein, 2002). The use of clonidine for sedative purposes in mechanically ventilated patients (Gillison, Fairbairn, McDonald, Zvonar, & Cardinal, 2004) asks us to rethink the function and use of this drug. It also shifts our overall understanding of alpha-2 agonists, as we see that their function cannot be fully understood in terms of their action on the receptors, particularly when compared to drugs that act on alpha-1 and beta receptors. An exploration of the pharmacokinetics of alpha-2 agonists (Golan, Tashjian, Armstrong & Armstrong, 2012; Nguyen, Tiemann, Park, & Salehi, 2017) will be done in this discussion in comparison with other adrenoreceptor drugs. Current literature is reviewed to identify how alpha-2 agonist medications are used in critical care nursing practice.
- Subjects
CLONIDINE; IMIDAZOLES; ADRENERGIC receptors; ANESTHESIA; AUTONOMIC nervous system; DELIRIUM; HEMODYNAMICS; HYPERTENSION; ANTIHYPERTENSIVE agents; INTENSIVE care units; PHARMACODYNAMICS; PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Critical Care Nursing, 2018, Vol 29, Issue 4, p15
- ISSN
2368-8653
- Publication type
Article