a comparison of dexmedetomidine, moxonidine and alpha-methyldopa effects on acute, lethal cocaine toxicity

conclusions the present study provides the first experimental evidence in support of dexmedetomidine treatment for cocaine-induced seizures. premedication with dexmedetomidine reduces seizure activity in a mouse model of acute cocaine toxicity. in addition, while dexmedetomidine may be effective, moxonidine and alpha-methyldopa did not effectively prevent cocaine-induced lethality. results the ratio of animals with convulsions was lower in all treated groups when compared to the control (p < 0.001). furthermore, 68% (n = 17) of animals in the dexmedetomidine group, 84% (n = 21) of the alpha-methyldopa group, 92% (n = 23) of the moxonidine group and 100% (n = 25) of the control group showed evidence of seizure activity (p = 0.009). cocaine-induced lethality was observed in 12% (n = 3) of the dexmedetomidine group, 48% (n = 12) of the alpha-methyldopa group, 52% (n = 13) of the moxonidine group, and 72% (n = 18) of the control group (p < 0.001). all treatments prolonged the time to seizure, which was longest in the dexmedetomidine group (p > 0.05). in addition, the time to lethality was also longer in the same group (p < 0.001). background the treatment of cocaine toxicity is an important subject for emergency physicians. we investigated the effects of dexmedetomidine, moxonidine and alpha-methyldopa on acute cocaine toxicity in mice. objectives the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine, moxonidine and alpha-methyldopa in a mouse model of acute cocaine toxicity. materials and methods we performed an experiment consisting of four groups (n = 25 each). the first group received normal saline solution, the second group received 40 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine, the third group received 0.1 mg/kg of moxonidine and the fourth group received 200 mg/kg of alpha-methyldopa, all of which were intraperitoneally administered 10 minutes before cocaine hydrochloride (105 mg/kg). all animals were observed for seizures (popcorn jumping, tonic-clonic activity, or a loss of the righting reflex) and lethality over the 30 minutes following cocaine treatment.