Romifidine

Romifidine is a drug that is used in veterinary medicine as a sedative mainly in large animals such as horses,^[1] although it may be used in a wide variety of species.^[2][3] It is not used in humans, but is closely related in structure to the commonly used drug clonidine.

Romifidine

Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
Routes of administration	IV
ATCvet code	QN05CM93 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	Veterinary use only
Identifiers
IUPAC name N-(2-bromo-6-fluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-amine
CAS Number	65896-16-4 Y
PubChem CID	71969
ChemSpider	64975 N
UNII	876351L05K
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID40216103
ECHA InfoCard	100.158.065
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C9H9BrFN3
Molar mass	258.094 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES C1CN=C(N1)NC2=C(C=CC=C2Br)F
InChI InChI=1S/C9H9BrFN3/c10-6-2-1-3-7(11)8(6)14-9-12-4-5-13-9/h1-3H,4-5H2,(H2,12,13,14) N Key:KDPNLRQZHDJRFU-UHFFFAOYSA-N N
NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Romifidine acts as an agonist at the α₂ adrenergic receptor subtype. Side effects can include bradycardia and respiratory depression. It is often used alongside other sedative or analgesic drugs such as ketamine or butorphanol.^[4][5] Yohimbine can be used as an antidote to rapidly reverse the effects.

Use

Romifidine is licensed for cats and dogs in several countries. Romifidine is licensed for non-meat horses. Romifidine may produce less ataxia during standing sedation than other α₂-adrenergic receptor agonists.^[6]

Pharmacology

Romifidine is an α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist that binds at a ratio of 340:1 over the imidazoline receptor.^[6]

Side effects

Romifidine administration in sheep activates pulmonary macrophages that damage the endothelium of capillaries and alveolar type I cells. This in turns causes alveolar haemorrhage and oedema causing hypoxaemia.^[6][7][8]