Is Medetomidine a controlled substance?

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

Medetomidine

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

Medetomidine is dosed at 0.1–0.15 mg/kg IM once in ball pythons, per Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.245 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Uncategorized

Routes

Indications

Heavy sedation Immobilization (sedation/anesthesia)Light sedation Light to moderate sedationreverseSedation Sedation (alpha-2 agonist; poor immobilisation alone)Sedation (α2-adrenergic agonist)Sedation - produces poor immobilization alonesee ketamine and butorphanol

Species with Medetomidine dosing data (17 dose rules)

African Pygmy Hedgehog Ball Python Bearded Dragon Betta (Siamese fighting fish)Dwarf Hamster Gerbil Goldfish Guinea Pig Koi Pet Rat Rabbit (Domestic)Sulcata Tortoise Syrian Hamster Umbrella Cockatoo

Evidence levels across 17 dose rules

Weak×7Moderate×10

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

Backed by 15 published sources

· 34. Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith A, Johnson-Delaney C, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2010:139-147. | 71. Stocker L. Medication for Use in the Treatment of Hedgehogs, Marshcliff, Ayelsbury, UK; 1992. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.740 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.4 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Hedgehogs). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· 42. Bailey TA, Apo MM. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, eds. Avian Medicine, 2nd ed., Mosby Elsevier, Edinburgh, Scotland; 2008:485-509. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.454 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, ; Avian Medicine (Samour) — ISBN 9780723438328,

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· 48. Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.787 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· 6. Barbiers R. Insectivora (hedgehogs, tenrecs, shrews, moles) and Dermoptera (flying lemurs). In: Fowler M, Miller R, eds. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, 5th ed., WB Saunders, Philadelphia, PA; 2003:304-315. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.740 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.4 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Hedgehogs). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy — ISBN 9780323828529, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323828529

· 63. Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.245 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530

· 87. Johnson-Delaney CA. Postoperative management of small mammals. ExoticDVM. 1999;1(5):19-21. | 106. Longley L. Rodent anaesthesia. In: Longley L, eds. Anaesthesia of Exotic Pets; Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2008:59-84. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.786 PMID: 42350233 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Bellini L, Banzato T, Contiero B, et al. Evaluation of three medetomidine-based protocols for chemical restraint and sedation for non-painful procedures in companion rats (Rattus norvegicus). Vet J. 2014;200:456-458. / Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.786 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.245 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530

· Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.787 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Hauptman K, Jekl V, Knotek Z. Use of medetomidine for sedation in the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus). Act Vet Brno. 2003;72:583-591. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.787 doi:10.2754/avb200372040583 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Johnson-Delaney CA. Postoperative management of small mammals. ExoticDVM. 1999,1(5):19-21. | Longley L. Rodent anaesthesia. In: Longley L, ed. Anaesthesia of Exotic Pets, Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2008:59-84. - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents), gerbil row '0.1-0.2 mg/kg SC87,106 | Gerbils/light to moderate sedation'. THE SPURIOUS 'PMID: 42350233' IS DELETED.

· Johnson-Delaney CA. Postoperative management of small mammals. ExoticDVM. 1999;1(5):19-21. | Longley L. Rodent anaesthesia. In: Longley L, eds. Anaesthesia of Exotic Pets; Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2008:59-84. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.786 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

· Marsh MK, et al. Sedation and Anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African Spurred Tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): A Retrospective Review (2009-2019). Animals. 2021;11(10):2920. doi:10.3390/ani11102920; PMCID: PMC8532946. Table 1. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8532946/

· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.206. — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.206' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.192; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.192. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712

· Varga M. Anaesthesia and analgesia. In: Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, 2nd ed., Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier, Oxford, UK; 2014:178-202. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.861 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929