What is Alfaxalone used for?

Alfaxalone is indicated for: Anaesthesia induction, Anaesthesia induction (chamber alternative), Anesthesia, Anesthetic induction, immobilization (induction), induction, Induction of general anesthesia, Minor procedure sedation, Sedation, Sedation/anesthesia — alfaxalone alone (group A), Seizure control (emergency), Short procedure anesthesia (endoscopy), Short procedure sedation (minor), short procedures.

Which species have cited Alfaxalone dosing data?

Alfaxalone dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 15 species: African Grey Parrot, African Pygmy Hedgehog, Ball Python, Bearded Dragon, Blue-tongue Skink, Cat (Domestic), Chinchilla, Crested Gecko, Dog (Domestic), Eastern Box Turtle, Ferret, Guinea Pig, Prairie Dog, Rabbit (Domestic), Veiled Chameleon.

Is Alfaxalone a controlled substance?

Alfaxalone is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

How does Alfaxalone work?

Neuroactive steroid that modulates GABA-A receptors, producing dose-dependent sedation to general anesthesia.

Alfaxalone

US brand names:Alfaxan

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Alfaxalone is dosed at 10–20 mg/kg IM once in ball pythons, per James LE, Williams CJ.A, Bertelsen MF, et al. Anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in the ball python (Python regius): dose response and effect of injection site. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2018;45:329-337. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01).. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Anesthetic

Routes

IVIM

Indications

Anaesthesia inductionAnaesthesia induction (chamber alternative)AnesthesiaAnesthetic induction

Side effects & warnings

Apnea with rapid IV injection — titrate slowly. No analgesic properties. Short shelf life once broached (use within 6 hours unless preserved formulation). Good safety profile in exotic species.

Evidence levels across 27 dose rules

Strong×4Moderate×16Anecdotal×3Weak×4

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 22 published sources

· ,400,430 (table-level citation for Table 4.7; no per-row superscript on this row) — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.257 (2026-08-01).
· Alfaxan Multidose - Alfaxalone Injection, Solution [US Product Label]. Jurox Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=6fd00f51-db05-407f-ab80-cba1b6aa9596 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.58 (2026-08-01).
· Alfaxan Multidose - Alfaxalone Injection, Solution [US Product Label]. Jurox Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=6fd00f51-db05-407f-ab80-cba1b6aa9596; Alfaxan(R) Anaesthetic Injection [AU Product Label]. Jurox Pty Limited; 2018. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.59 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed | Corroborated 2026-07-30: d'Ovidio D et al. Vet Anaesth Analg 2018;45(2):183-189. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2017.08.004 (abstract) — 30 pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), 5 mg/kg IM; same dose in FDA Index MIF 900-031 (Alfaxan Multidose IDX).

Sample dosing (2 of 27 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 15 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Cat (Domestic)	IM	2–5 mg/kg	once	Strong	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
Cat (Domestic)	IV	2–5 mg/kg	once	Strong	Alfaxan Multidose - Alfaxalone Injection, Solution [US Product Label]. Jurox Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=6fd00f51-db05-407f-ab80-cba1b6aa9596; Alfaxan(R) Anaesthetic Injection [AU Product Label]. Jurox Pty Limited; 2018. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.59 (2026-08-01).

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· Effect of GnRH agonist (deslorelin) on reproductive activity in captive female veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus). Veterinarni Medicina. DOI 10.17221/31/2023-VETMED; PMID 37982053; PMCID PMC10581518. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10581518/

· Evaluating the Physiologic Effects of Alfaxalone, Dexmedetomidine, and Midazolam Combinations in Common Blue-Tongued Skinks (Tiliqua scincoides). Animals 2024, 14(18), 2636. DOI 10.3390/ani14182636; PMID 39335227; PMCID PMC11429061. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11429061/

· Grint NJ, Smith HE, Senior JM. Clinical evaluation of alfaxalone in cyclodextrin for the induction of anaesthesia in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2008;163:395-396. doi:10.1136/vr.163.13.395 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01).

· Grint NJ, Smith HE, Senior JM. Clinical evaluation of alfaxalone in cyclodextrin for the induction of anaesthesia in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2008;163:395-396. doi:10.1136/vr.163.13.395; Pignon C. Personal communication; 2016. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01).

· Huynh M, Poumeyrol S, Pignon C, et al. Intramuscular administration of alfaxalone for sedation in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2015;176:255-260. doi:10.1136/vr.102522 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01).

· James LE, Williams CJ.A, Bertelsen MF, et al. Anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone in the ball python (Python regius): dose response and effect of injection site. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2018;45:329-337.; Yaw TJ, Mans C, Johnson SM, et al. Effect of injection site on alfaxalone-induced sedation in ball pythons (Python regius). J Sm Anim Pract. 2018. doi:10.1111/jsap.12918 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01).

· Knotek Z. Alfaxalone as an induction agent for anaesthesia in terrapins and tortoises. Vet Rec. 2014;175:327-329. doi:10.1136/vr.102486; Phillips BE, Posner LP, Lewbart GA, et al. Effects of alfaxalone administered intravenously to healthy yearling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) at three different doses. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2017;250:909-917. doi:10.2460/javma.250.8.909 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01).

· Mans C, Sladky KK, Schumacher J. General anesthesia. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:447-464. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.257 (2026-08-01).

· Parkinson L, Mans C. Anesthetic and postanesthetic effects of alfaxalone-butorphanol compared with dexmedetomidine-ketamine in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2017;56:290-295. PMID: 28432759 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.782 (2026-08-01).

· Perrin KL, Bertelsen MF. Intravenous alfaxalone and propofol anesthesia in the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps). J Herp Med Surg; 2017:123-126. doi:10.5818/16-01-071.1 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01).

· SchottR. Triaging the wildlife patient. Proc Student Chap Am Vet Med Assoc Symp; 2015. [printed as shown; 'SchottR' is OCR truncation of the surname] — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.1129 (2026-08-01).

· Schumacher J, Yelen T. Anesthesia and analgesia. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:442-452. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01).

Alfaxalone

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Alfaxalone dosing data (27 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 27 dose rules

Backed by 22 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 27 cited rules)

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Other formulations of Alfaxalone

Alfaxalone

Drug Class

Routes

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Side effects & warnings

Species with Alfaxalone dosing data (27 dose rules)

Evidence levels across 27 dose rules

Backed by 22 published sources

Sample dosing (2 of 27 cited rules)

Upgrade for Full Details

Other formulations of Alfaxalone

Articles mentioning Alfaxalone

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