| The kittens in this sequence are 13 week old
males. Both received 0.015 mg/kg medetomidine and 0.2 mg/kg midazolam. One
received 0.2 mg/kg butorphanol and one received 0.2 mg/kg nalbuphine. The
medications were combined and given IM in the epaxial musculature.
On day 1 they were both neutered. Intratesticular blocks using 1 mg/kg
each of lidocaine and bupivacaine were administered after premeds to
assess patient response to IT local anesthesia. Ketamine 5 mg/kg and
diazepam 0.25 mg/kg was drawn up and given IV to effect. The kittens were
intubated and placed on oxygen. The neuters were completed without additional
inhalant anesthetic agents. The intensity of the sedative/analgesic
medications was similar at 10 minutes post-injection although the
nalbuphine kitten appeared to have a slightly less intense total effect.
The nalbuphine kitten recovered to purposeful movement about 10 minutes
more quickly than the butorphanol kitten. No antagonists were
administered.
On day 2, the exact same sedative/analgesic drugs and doses were
administered but the opioids were switched. As the day before, the
intensity of the sedative/analgesic effect was similar at 10 minutes post
IM injection. Likewise, the nalbuphine kitten recovered to purposeful
movement 10 to 15 minutes before the butorphanol kitten. No antagonists
were administered.
Nalbuphine is primarily a kappa agonists
as is butorphanol. Like butorphanol, nalbuphine exerts an antagonist
effect at the mu receptor. Nalbuphine is NOT a scheduled drug which
simplifies records keeping. Nalbuphine is also much less expensive;
about 1/7th the cost of butorphanol. Both opioids possess mild
analgesic properties of short duration. |
