POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Rompun 2% w/v Solution for Injection

Active ingredient: Xylazine

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Cattle Dogs Horses

Manufacturer

Elanco GmbH

VMD MA No.

52127/5078

What it's used for

Sedative with some analgesic and muscle relaxant properties for use in cattle, horses, dogs and cats. All cases where sedation is required including: i) Ha...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

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Clinical information

Rompun 2% w/v Solution for Injection — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 26 Mar 2026.

Sedative with some analgesic and muscle relaxant properties for use in cattle,
horses, dogs and cats.
All cases where sedation is required including:
i) Handling fractious animals (e.g. for transportation).
ii) Medical examination e.g. X-ray examination, removal of bandages,
examination of teats, penis and oral cavity.
iii) Pre-medication for minor superficial operations, painful manipulative
procedures and local or regional anaesthesia.

Revised: March 2025
AN: 04052/2024

Use two sterile needles, one to fill the syringe from the bottle and one to inject
the patient. Once the required dose has been withdrawn from the vial, the
syringe should be removed from the needle. A separate sterile needle should be
inserted into the injection site and the syringe connected to it. The needles
should be discarded into a closed container.
Syringes and needles must be sterile. Clean the area of injection site and swab
with spirit.
Cattle
Rompun is given by intramuscular injection. The dose rate is 0.05-0.3 mg/kg
(0.25-1.5 ml per 100 kg) bodyweight, according to the degree of sedation
required. Very fractious animals may require the higher dose rates not
exceeding 0.3 mg/kg (Dose rate 4).
Dose mg/kg mg/50 kg ml/50 kg
1 0.05 2.5 0.12
2 0.10 5.0 0.25
3 0.20 10 0.50
4 0.30 15 0.75
Dose 1 Sedation with a slight decrease of muscle tone. The ability to stand is
maintained.
Dose 2 Sedation, marked decrease of muscle tone and some analgesia. The
animal usually remains standing, but may lie down.
Dose 3 Deep sedation, further decrease of muscle tone and a degree of
analgesia. The animal lies down.
Dose 4 Very deep sedation, a profound decrease in muscle tone and a degree
of analgesia. The animal lies down.

Revised: March 2025
AN: 04052/2024
Animals should not be disturbed until the drug has taken its full effect. The first
effects are usually seen within 5 minutes of injection and the maximum effect is
produced 10 minutes later. There is no struggling or excitement during induction
or recovery.
If the required depth of sedation is not achieved, it is unlikely that repetition of the
dose will prove more effective. It is advisable to allow complete recovery,
repeating the procedure with a higher dose after 24 hours.
When any surgical treatment is carried out using xylazine, additional local
anaesthesia should be employed.
Horses
Administer by slow intravenous injection, taking from one to two minutes to
administer. Dosage depends on the degree of sedation required and the
response of the animal and is 0.6-1 mg/kg bodyweight (3-5 ml/100 kg
bodyweight). Nervous or highly excitable horses generally require the higher
dose. Experience has shown that older horses and those that have undergone
severe exertion before treatment respond more readily to Rompun.
Depending on the dosage, light to deep sedation with individually variable
analgesia is obtained. The horse does not become recumbent.
Animals should not be disturbed until the drug has taken its full effect. This is
usually obtained within 5 minutes of intravenous injection and lasts for
approximately 20 minutes.
If the required depth of sedation is not achieved, it is unlikely that repetition of the
dose will prove more effective. It is advisable to allow complete recovery,
repeating the procedure using Rompun Dry Substance, with a higher dose rate,
after 24 hours.
For operations and painful procedures, additional local or regional anaesthesia
should be used.
Rompun can also be administered to horses as a pre-medicant for operations on
the recumbent animal using chloral hydrate, barbiturates, ketamine or halothane.
Cats
Administer intramuscularly at a dose rate of 3 mg/kg (0.15 ml/kg) bodyweight.
The effect is adequate for procedures that are not associated with any
considerable degree of pain. Pre-medication with atropine is advantageous.
When used in conjunction with ketamine, xylazine pre-medication eliminates
muscular stiffness during anaesthesia and maintains sedation throughout the
recovery period.

Revised: March 2025
AN: 04052/2024
Barbiturate anaesthesia should not be induced until sedation is at its deepest, i.e.
about 20 minutes after administration of Rompun. Under these conditions the
dose of barbiturates is reduced by about half.
Dogs
Administer by intramuscular injection at a dose rate of 1-3 mg/kg
(0.05-0.15 ml/kg) bodyweight. Other routes of administration may be used, but
the effect is less predictable. Good sedation is usually achieved at the lower end
of the dose range given above, but excitable or vicious animals require a higher
dose. The effect is adequate for procedures that are not associated with any
considerable degree of pain.
For painful procedures, use in combination with a local anaesthetic. Pre-
medication with atropine may be advantageous.
When used for pre anaesthetic medication, xylazine reduces the dose required in
the case of barbiturates by about half. Xylazine can also be used as a pre-
medicant for ketamine induced anaesthesia.
Further information applicable to all species
Analeptics will shorten the period or reduce the depth of sedation.
Limited information available suggests that alpha-2 blockers such as atipamezole
may be effective in reversing the sedation and other physiological effects of the
drug.
Transient hyperglycaemia is a common finding after xylazine sedation.

Do not use in the latter stages of pregnancy except at parturition. As the safety
of xylazine use during organogenesis has not been fully demonstrated by current
methods it should be used with caution during the first month of pregnancy.
In the cat and dog, because of the emetic effect which is sometimes produced,
do not use xylazine in mechanical complications of the alimentary tract
e.g. obstruction of the oesophagus, gastric torsion or hernia.

Not applicable.

Revised: March 2025
AN: 04052/2024

Applicable to all species
Use with care in elderly or debilitated patients which may be adversely affected
by profound cardiovascular changes.
Cattle
Tympany should be prevented in recumbent cattle by sternal recumbency.
For operations in lateral or dorsal recumbency, lower head and neck to prevent
inhalation of ruminal contents.
Maintain recumbent and drowsy animals in the shade. In case of accidental
overdosage leading to respiratory failure, cold water douches and artificial
respiration are indicated.
After dose levels 3 and 4 cattle are likely to remain drowsy for several hours and
should be kept in the shade.
Horses
Following intravenous injection in horses a transient rise and fall of blood
pressure may be seen.
With horses the usual precautions required in handling should always be
observed even when a high dose of xylazine has been given.
Dogs and cats
In cats and dogs if the stomach is full, vomiting occurs before sedation is
complete. This is an advantage if general anaesthesia is to follow. The emetic
effect is reduced by fasting for 6 to 24 hours.
Pre-medication with atropine in cats and dogs may reduce salivation and
bradycardia effects.

Revised: March 2025
AN: 04052/2024

i. Special precautions for use in animals
Caution is required when pulmonary disease is present.
When high doses are to be employed the animal should be fasted for some
hours beforehand.
It must be noted that the swallowing reflex is reduced during the period when
the action of the drug is at its peak.
Sedated animals should remain under observation until normal.
Segregate sedated animals.
In the event of respiratory failure manual compression of the thorax is usually
sufficient to restore normal respiration.
Observe aseptic precautions.
ii. Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the medicinal
product to animals
Care should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection. To avoid accidental
self-injection, one of the following procedures should be adopted. Either use
two sterile needles, one to fill syringe from bottle and one to inject patient, or
once the required dose has been withdrawn from the vial, immediately
remove the needle from the syringe, insert the needles into the injection site,
and then connect the syringe to it. Used needles should be safely deposited
in a closed container.
1. In the case of accidental oral intake or self-injection, seek medical
advice immediately and show the package leaflet to the doctor but DO
NOT DRIVE as sedation and changes in blood pressure may occur.
2. Avoid skin, eye or mucoal contact.
3. Immediately after exposure, wash the exposed sking with large
amounts of fresh water.
4. Remove contaminated clothes that are in direct contacat with skin.
5. In case of accidental contact of the product with eyes, rinse with large
amounts of fresh water. If symptoms occur, seek the advice of a
doctor.
6. If pregnant women handle the product, special caution should be
observed not to self-inject as uterine contractions and decreased
foetal blood pressure may occur after accidental systemic exposure.
7. Advice to doctors: Xylazine is an aplha2-adrenoreceptor agonist.
Symptoms after absorption may involve clinical effects including dose-
dependent sedation, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension,
a dry mouth, and hyperglycaemia. Ventricular arrhythmias have also
been reported. Respiratory and haemodynamic symptoms should be
treated symptomatically.

Concurrent administration of adrenoceptor stimulants is not recommended.
The concurrent intravenous use of potentiated sulphonamides with alpha-2
agonists has been reported to cause cardiac arrhythmias which may be fatal.
Whilst no such effects have been reported with Rompun, it is recommended
that intravenous administration of Trimethoprim/Sulphonamide containing
products should not be undertaken when horses have been sedated with
xylazine.

Do not store above 25
o
C
Following withdrawal of the first dose use the product within 28 days.
Discard unused material.

Revised: March 2025
AN: 04052/2024

amounts of fresh water. If symptoms occur, seek the advice of a
doctor.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.