Introduction

Name

• BANM.

Class of drug

• Analgesics (µ opiate agonist).

Description

Chemical name

• Alfentanil hydrochloride.

Molecular formula

• 4-anilinopipridine analogue.

Physical properties

• Water soluble.
• Lipid soluble.
• pKa - 6.8.

Uses

Indications

Analgesia/profound sedation

• Either alone for very short procedures, eg radiotherapy.
• Or used in conjunction with other anesthetics as part of a balanced anesthesia protocol.
• Augments intra-operative analgesia.
• Decreases amount of other anesthetics required.

Ophthalmic anesthesia

• Improved reduction in intra-ocular pressure compared to fentanyl Fentanyl (parenteral) with similar cardiac stability.
  Potent respiratory depressant. Must have facilities for tracheal intubation Endotracheal intubation and IPPV.

Administration

Precautions

Interactions

with other drugs

• Reduces MAC of halothane Halothane by almost 50%.

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. Ramsey I (2017) 9th edn.
• Clinical Anaesthetic Pharmacology. (1991) Eds: John W Dundee, R S J Clarke & William McCaughey. Pub Churchill Livingstone.
• Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopoeia. The London Pharmaceutical Society. 31st Edn.