Domitor (medetomidine hydrochloride) is indicated for use in dogs: for restraint, sedation and analgesia associated with clinical examinations and procedures, minor surgery, pre-anaesthesia and as a premedicant before thiopentone-halothane general a naesthesiaand as a premedicant before general anaesthesia with propofol. In combination with butorphanol for sedation and analgesia, and as a premedicant prior to thiopentone anaesthesia. In cats: for restraint and sedation. Medetomidine is a potent and highly selective alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist with both central and peripheral activity, and acting both presynaptically and postsynaptically. Its primary effects are sedative and analgesic resulting from its central depressant activity. It has no local anaesthetic properties. Like other compounds of its class there are secondary effects, including bradycardia. Blood pressure is increased but then returns to normal or just below. Body temperature is decreased in a dose dependent manner and intestinal motility is also reduced. The drug has been developed by Orion Pharma. It is currently approved for dogs in the United States, and distributed in the United States by Pfizer Animal Health and by Novartis Animal Health in Canada under the product name Domitor. The marketed product is a racemic mixture of two stereoisomers; dexmedetomidine is the isomer with more useful effects, and is now marketed as Dexdomitor.