Sedation in Green Iguanas
Reptile · Iguana iguana · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
4 cited drugs treat Sedation in green iguanas: Alfaxalone, Flumazenil, Ketamine, Midazolam.
Pharmacologic sedation for diagnostic procedures, minor surgical interventions, and pre-anaesthetic premedi-cation. α2 agonists (dexmedetomidine, medetomidine), phenothiazines (acepromazine), and benzodiazepines (midazolam) form the backbone of veterinary protocols.
The overview above describes Sedation across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to green iguanas — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Alfaxalone(Alfaxan)
Anesthetic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 10–30 mg/kg | single dose (10 mg/kg light sedation, up to 30 mg/ | Sedation / surgical anaesthesia | Moderate | Bertelsen MF and Sauer CD (2011) Alfaxalone anaesthesia in the green iguana (Iguana iguana). Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 38(5), 461-466 — Source: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.344 — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.344' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.330; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.330. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712 |
| IM | 10–30 mg/kg | single dose titrated to the depth required | Sedation to general anaesthesia | Strong | Bertelsen MF, Sauer CD. Alfaxalone anaesthesia in the green iguana (Iguana iguana). Vet Anaesth Analg. 2011;38(5):461-466. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2011.00640.x https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/21831051 |
Flumazenil(Romazicon)
Antidote| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.05 mg/kg | single dose as needed to reverse midazolam | Reversal of midazolam sedation | Moderate | Bressan TF, Sobreira T, Carregaro AB. Use of rodent sedation tests to evaluate midazolam and flumazenil in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019;58(6):810-816. doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/31645234 — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Use of Rodent Sedation Tests to Evaluate Midazolam and Flumazenil in Green Iguanas ( Iguana iguana ). (Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS, 2019). doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005. https://doi.org/10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "used. All 10 iguanas were tested under 4 conditions, as follows: MS, midazolam (2 mg/kg IM) […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct. |
Ketamine(Ketaset, Vetalar)
Anesthetic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 20–30 mg/kg | single dose (sedation/preanaesthetic) | Sedation; facilitates endotracheal intubation; preanaesthetic | Weak | Faulkner JE, Archambault A. Anesthesia and surgery in the green iguana. Semin Avian Exot Pet Med. 1993;2:103-108. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1410 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
Midazolam(Versed)
Anesthetic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 2 mg/kg | single dose | Sedation for examination, restraint and minor procedures | Strong | Bressan TF, Sobreira T, Carregaro AB. Use of rodent sedation tests to evaluate midazolam and flumazenil in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019;58(6):810-816. doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/31645234 — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Use of Rodent Sedation Tests to Evaluate Midazolam and Flumazenil in Green Iguanas ( Iguana iguana ). (Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS, 2019). doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005. https://doi.org/10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "n in rodents-the open field test, forced swim test, behavioral scale, and traction test-were […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct. |
| IM | 2 mg/kg | single dose (sedation); no repeat interval stated | Sedation | Moderate | Bressan TF, Sobreira T, Carregaro AB. Use of rodent sedation tests to evaluate midazolam and flumazenil in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019;58:810-816. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.247 doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Use of Rodent Sedation Tests to Evaluate Midazolam and Flumazenil in Green Iguanas ( Iguana iguana ). (Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS, 2019). doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005. https://doi.org/10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000005. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "n in rodents-the open field test, forced swim test, behavioral scale, and traction test-were […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Other conditions in Green Iguanas
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.