What class of drugs does azaperone belong to?
Azaperone is a pyridylpiperazine and butylbenzene neuroleptic drug with sedative and antiemetic effects. It is mainly used as a sedative in veterinary medicine. It is not commonly used as an antipsychotic in humans.
Azaperone acts primarily as a dopamine antagonist but also has some antihistamine and anticholinergic properties as seen with similar drugs such as haloperidol. Azaperone may cause hypotension, and although it has minimal respiratory effects in pigs, high doses of azaperone may cause respiratory depression.
veterinary use
The most common use of azaperone is in relatively small doses as a "sedative" for farmed pigs (to reduce aggression), either to stop them from fighting or to encourage sows to accept piglets. Higher doses of narcotics are used concomitantly with other drugs such as xylazine, tiletamine, and zolazepam. Azaperone is also used in combination with powerful anesthetics such as etorphine or carfentanil to sedate large animals such as elephants. Avoid use in horses as adverse reactions may occur.
The European Medicines Agency has established maximum residue limits for azaperone in pigs.
Azaperone (trade name Stresnil) was approved for use in swine in the United States in 1983 under NADA 115-732.
What are the side effects of azaperone medication?
STRESNIL (azaperone) injection is generally well tolerated. Possible side effects at recommended doses include incoordination, salivation, drowsiness, heaps, tremors, and temporary anorexia. These reactions are short-lived and do not have lasting effects.
Is azaperone a painkiller?
Azaperone (5 mg/kg im) produces sedation but no analgesia. It is best used in combination with medetomidate (10 mg/kg im) to produce deep sedation and provide adequate analgesia for minor surgical procedures.
