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Medetomidine
Last updated: 09/02/2024
(Not known by any other names)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Description
Medetomidine is a veterinary sedative analgesic often used in combination with opioids and used as the hydrochloride salt.
Availability status
Current
Introduction & key dates
-
Examples of veterinary uses
Used as both a surgical anesthetic and an analgesic
Examples of species treated
Deer; Cats; Dogs
Approval status
VMR 2013/2033 approval status (GB/UK)
Approved
EU Regulatory approval status
Approved
Chemical structure
Isomerism
Isomeric. The biologically active dextroisomer of medetomidine is known as dexmedetomide
Chemical formula
C₁₃H₁₆N₂
Canonical SMILES
CC1=C(C(=CC=C1)C(C)C2=CN=CN2)C
Isomeric SMILES
-
International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)
CUHVIMMYOGQXCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
InChI=1S/C13H16N2/c1-9-5-4-6-12(10(9)2)11(3)13-7-14-8-15-13/h4-8,11H,1-3H3,(H,14,15)
2D structure diagram/image available?
Yes
Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams
Common Name Relationship Link
medetomidine hydrochloride Variant
General status
Veterinary substance type
Sedative, Analgesic
Other constituent type
Biocide
Substance groups
Unclassified substance
Minimum active substance purity
>99%
Known relevant impurities
-
Substance origin
Synthetic
Mode of action
A non-narcotic alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonist
Molecular targets
[Alpha2-adrenergic, Agonist]
CAS RN
86347-14-0
EC number
811-718-6
CIPAC number
None allocated
US EPA chemical code
-
PubChem CID
69602
CLP index number
No data found
Therapeutic Class
Nervous system: Psycholeptics
ATCvet Code
QN05CM91
Controlled Drug?
No
Regulation 37/2010 MRL Classification
-
Molecular mass
200.28
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
-
IUPAC name
(RS)-4-[1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-3H-imidazole
CAS name
-
Other status information
-
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
-
Physical state
White crystalline, odourless powder
Related substances & organisms
Formulations
Property
Product
Manufacturer
Authorisation Route
Legal Class (GB/UK)
Example products (past and present) using this active
- - - -
Formulation and application details
Usually formulated, using the hydrochloride salt, as a solution for injection
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
19800
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
 High
Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)
3300
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
p-Xylene		 -
65000
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Acetone		 -
Melting point (°C)
116
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
 -
Boiling point (°C)
382
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
 -
Degradation point (°C)
- - -
Flashpoint (°C)
191.3
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
 -
Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C
P
7.94 X 1002 Calculated -
Log P
2.9
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
 Moderate
Fat solubility of residues
Solubility
- - -
Data type
- - -
Density (g ml⁻¹)
- - -
Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C
- - -
-
Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)
3.5 X 10-03
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
 Low volatility
Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)
- - -
Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost
From plant surface
- - -
From soil surface
- - -
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
- - -
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
- - -
Refractive Index
- - -
Environmental release
-
Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
100
E2 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
2 = Unverified data of unknown source
 Persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₅₀ (field)
- - -
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
- - -
DT₉₀ (field)
- - -
Note
Literature: Slow degradation
Manure DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
- - -
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
- - -
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
110
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
 Slow
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
- - -
Air degradation
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd
-
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
 Slightly mobile
Koc
2460
Notes and range
Literature data range Koc 1215 to 3705 g/mL
Freundlich
Kf
- - -
Kfoc
-
1/n
-
Notes and range
-
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
1.22 Calculated Low leachability
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
- - -
CT₅₀ (days)
- -
Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY
Terrestrial ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 31.25
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat		 High
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL
(mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
(ppm diet)
- -
Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
- - -
Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)
- - -
Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)
- - -
Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Soil micro-organisms
- - -
Collembola
Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Non-target plants
- - -
- - -
Honeybees (Apis spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Chronic
- - -
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
-
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
-
Mason bees (Osmia spp.)
Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)
- - -
Other bee species (1)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
- - -
Mode of exposure
-
Other bee species (2)
Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)
- - -
Mode of exposure
-
Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Lacewings)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)
- - -
Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)
- - -
Aquatic ecotoxicology
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
30.0
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Danio rerio		 Moderate
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
4.5
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
 Moderate
Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
0.005
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Americamysis bahia as 28 day NOEC		 High
Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)
- - -
Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)
0.34
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Scenedesmus subspicatus		 Moderate
Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)
- - -
Mesocosm study data
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
- - -
NOEAEC mg l⁻¹
- - -
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION
General
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)
High (class III) - -
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 31.25
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat		 High
Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)
2000
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat		 -
Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)
0.14
E3 E = Manufacturers safety data sheets
3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat 4 hr		 -
Other Mammal toxicity endpoints
- - -
ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)
- - -
Dermal penetration studies (%)
- - -
Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464
- - -
Exposure Routes
Public
-
Occupational
-
Mammalian dose elimination route and rate
Metabolised and excreted via the kidneys in the urine.
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources
3 = Unverified data of known source
 -
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
XNo, known not to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database)
0 = No data
;
E0 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source)
0 = No data
 No data found
Reproduction / development effects Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor Neurotoxicant
No data found No data found
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant Skin irritant Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
?Possibly, status not identified
 No data found
Eye irritant Phototoxicant  
?Possibly, status not identified
 No data found  
General human health issues
Possible lungs, liver and kidney toxicant
May cause hypersensitivity reactions
Harmful if swallowed
Has a strong sedative effect
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
Emits a variety of toxic fumes on combustion
Corrosive
Not explosive or oxidising
CLP classification 2013
Health: H300, H310
Environment: H400, H410
WHO Classification
Not listed (Not listed)
UN Number
Not regulated
Waste disposal & packaging
-
Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity
-
TRANSLATIONS
Language
Name
English
medetomidine
French
-
German
-
Danish
-
Italian
-
Spanish
medetomidina
Greek
-
Polish
-
Swedish
-
Hungarian
-
Dutch
-
Norwegian
-
Record last updated: 09/02/2024
Contact: aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as: Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242