POM-V
Prescription Required
Companion Animal
Sedastart 1 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats and Dogs
Active ingredient: Medetomidine Hydrochloride
Form
Injection
Species
Cats
Dogs
Manufacturer
Le Vet B.V.
VMD MA No.
19994/5009
What it's used for
In cats: In combination with ketamine for general anaesthesia for minor surgical procedures of short duration.
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-
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Clinical information
Sedastart 1 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats and Dogs — SPC Details
Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.
In cats:
In combination with ketamine for general anaesthesia for minor surgical
procedures of short duration.
In combination with ketamine for general anaesthesia for minor surgical
procedures of short duration.
Cats: Intramuscular use.
Use of an appropriately graduated syringe is recommended to ensure accurate
dosing when administering small volumes.
To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as
possible.
Dogs
For sedation, the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at the rate
of 750 μg medetomidine hydrochloride i.v. or 1000 μg medetomidine hydrochloride
i.m. per square meter of body surface. Use the table below to determine the
correct dosage on the basis of body weight:
Maximal effect is obtained within 15-20 minutes. Clinical effect is dose-dependent,
lasting from 30-180 minutes.
Dosages in ml and corresponding amount of medetomidine hydrochloride in μg/kg
bw):
Body weight
[kg]
i.v. – Injection
[ml]
corresp. to
[μg/kg bw]
i.m. – Injection
[ml]
corresp. to
[μg/kg bw]
10.0880.00.10100.020.1260.00.1680.030.1653.30.2170.040.1947.50.2562.550.2244.00.3060.060.2541.70.3355.070.2840.00.3752.980.3037.50.4050.090.3336.70.4448.9100.3535.00.4747.0120.4033.30.5344.2140.4431.40.5942.1160.4830.00.6440.0180.5228.90.6938.3200.5628.00.7437.0250.6526.00.8634.4300.7324.30.9832.7350.8123.11.0830.9400.8922.21.1829.5501.0320.61.3727.4601.1619.31.5525.8701.2918.41.7224.6801.4117.61.8823.5901.5216.92.0322.61001.6316.32.1821.8
For premedication, the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at a
dosage of 10-40 µg medetomidine hydrochloride per kg body weight,
corresponding to 0.1 – 0.4 ml veterinary medicinal product per 10 kg body weight.
The exact dose depends on the combination of drugs used and the dosage(s) of
the other drug(s). The dose should furthermore be adjusted to the type of surgery,
length of procedure and patient temperament and weight. Premedication with
medetomidine will significantly reduce the dosage of the induction agent required
and will reduce volatile anaesthetic requirements for maintenance anaesthesia. All
anaesthetic agents used for induction or maintenance of anaesthesia should be
administered to effect. Before using any combinations, veterinary medicinal
product literature for the other products should be observed. See also section 3.5.
Cats:
For moderate-deep sedation and restraint of cats the veterinary medicinal product
should be administered at a dosage of 50 – 150 medetomidine hydrochloride /
kg bw (corresp. to 0.05 – 0.15 ml veterinary medicinal product / kg bw).
For anaesthesia the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at a
dosage of 80 μg medetomidine hydrochloride / kg bw (corresp. to 0.08 ml
veterinary medicinal product / kg bw) and 2.5 to 7.5 mg ketamine / kg bw. Using
this dosage anaesthesia occurs within 3 – 4 minutes and is apparent for 20 – 50
minutes. For longer lasting procedures administration has to be repeated by using
½ of the initial dose (i.e. 40 μg medetomidine hydrochloride (corresp. to 0.04 ml
veterinary medicinal product / kg bw) and 2.5 – 3.75 mg ketamine / kg bw) or 3.0
mg ketamine / kg bw alone. Alternatively, for longer lasting procedures
anaesthesia may be extended by use of the inhalation agents isoflurane or
halothane, with oxygen or oxygen/nitrous oxide. See section 3.5.
Use of an appropriately graduated syringe is recommended to ensure accurate
dosing when administering small volumes.
To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as
possible.
Dogs
For sedation, the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at the rate
of 750 μg medetomidine hydrochloride i.v. or 1000 μg medetomidine hydrochloride
i.m. per square meter of body surface. Use the table below to determine the
correct dosage on the basis of body weight:
Maximal effect is obtained within 15-20 minutes. Clinical effect is dose-dependent,
lasting from 30-180 minutes.
Dosages in ml and corresponding amount of medetomidine hydrochloride in μg/kg
bw):
Body weight
[kg]
i.v. – Injection
[ml]
corresp. to
[μg/kg bw]
i.m. – Injection
[ml]
corresp. to
[μg/kg bw]
10.0880.00.10100.020.1260.00.1680.030.1653.30.2170.040.1947.50.2562.550.2244.00.3060.060.2541.70.3355.070.2840.00.3752.980.3037.50.4050.090.3336.70.4448.9100.3535.00.4747.0120.4033.30.5344.2140.4431.40.5942.1160.4830.00.6440.0180.5228.90.6938.3200.5628.00.7437.0250.6526.00.8634.4300.7324.30.9832.7350.8123.11.0830.9400.8922.21.1829.5501.0320.61.3727.4601.1619.31.5525.8701.2918.41.7224.6801.4117.61.8823.5901.5216.92.0322.61001.6316.32.1821.8
For premedication, the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at a
dosage of 10-40 µg medetomidine hydrochloride per kg body weight,
corresponding to 0.1 – 0.4 ml veterinary medicinal product per 10 kg body weight.
The exact dose depends on the combination of drugs used and the dosage(s) of
the other drug(s). The dose should furthermore be adjusted to the type of surgery,
length of procedure and patient temperament and weight. Premedication with
medetomidine will significantly reduce the dosage of the induction agent required
and will reduce volatile anaesthetic requirements for maintenance anaesthesia. All
anaesthetic agents used for induction or maintenance of anaesthesia should be
administered to effect. Before using any combinations, veterinary medicinal
product literature for the other products should be observed. See also section 3.5.
Cats:
For moderate-deep sedation and restraint of cats the veterinary medicinal product
should be administered at a dosage of 50 – 150 medetomidine hydrochloride /
kg bw (corresp. to 0.05 – 0.15 ml veterinary medicinal product / kg bw).
For anaesthesia the veterinary medicinal product should be administered at a
dosage of 80 μg medetomidine hydrochloride / kg bw (corresp. to 0.08 ml
veterinary medicinal product / kg bw) and 2.5 to 7.5 mg ketamine / kg bw. Using
this dosage anaesthesia occurs within 3 – 4 minutes and is apparent for 20 – 50
minutes. For longer lasting procedures administration has to be repeated by using
½ of the initial dose (i.e. 40 μg medetomidine hydrochloride (corresp. to 0.04 ml
veterinary medicinal product / kg bw) and 2.5 – 3.75 mg ketamine / kg bw) or 3.0
mg ketamine / kg bw alone. Alternatively, for longer lasting procedures
anaesthesia may be extended by use of the inhalation agents isoflurane or
halothane, with oxygen or oxygen/nitrous oxide. See section 3.5.
Do not use in animals with:
- severe cardiovascular disease or respiratory diseases or impaired liver or
kidney function.
- mechanical disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract (torsio ventriculi,
incarcerations, oesophagal obstructions).
- pregnancy.
- diabetes mellitus.
- state of shock, emaciation or serious debilitation.
Do not use concomitantly with sympathomimetic amines.
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any other
excipients.
Do not use in animals with ocular problems where an increase in intraocular
pressure would be detrimental.
- severe cardiovascular disease or respiratory diseases or impaired liver or
kidney function.
- mechanical disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract (torsio ventriculi,
incarcerations, oesophagal obstructions).
- pregnancy.
- diabetes mellitus.
- state of shock, emaciation or serious debilitation.
Do not use concomitantly with sympathomimetic amines.
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any other
excipients.
Do not use in animals with ocular problems where an increase in intraocular
pressure would be detrimental.
Cats and dogs:
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000
animals treated):
Pulmonary oedema
a
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Bradycardia, Heart block 1st degree, Heart block
2nd degree, Extrasystole, Hypertension
b
,
Hypotension
b
, Decreased cardiac output,
Circulatory depression
c
Respiratory depression
c
Death
d
, Cyanosis, Hypothermia
Vomiting
e
Increased sensitivity to sound, Muscle tremor
Polyuria
Hyperglycaemia
f
Undetermined frequency Vasoconstriction of coronary artery
(cannot be estimated from the
available data)
Injection site pain
a
Especially in cats.
b
Blood pressure will increase initially after administration and then return to
normal, or slightly below normal
c
Manual ventilation and an oxygen supplement may be indicated. Atropine may
increase the cardiac rate.
d
From circulatory failure with severe congestion of the lungs, liver, or kidney.
e
Some dogs and most cats will vomit within 5-10 minutes of injection. Cats may
also vomit on recovery.
f
Reversible hyperglycaemia due to depression of insulin secretion.
Dogs with a body weight of less than 10 kg may show the undesirable effects
mentioned above more often.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian,
to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the
national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package
leaflet for respective contact details.
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000
animals treated):
Pulmonary oedema
a
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Bradycardia, Heart block 1st degree, Heart block
2nd degree, Extrasystole, Hypertension
b
,
Hypotension
b
, Decreased cardiac output,
Circulatory depression
c
Respiratory depression
c
Death
d
, Cyanosis, Hypothermia
Vomiting
e
Increased sensitivity to sound, Muscle tremor
Polyuria
Hyperglycaemia
f
Undetermined frequency Vasoconstriction of coronary artery
(cannot be estimated from the
available data)
Injection site pain
a
Especially in cats.
b
Blood pressure will increase initially after administration and then return to
normal, or slightly below normal
c
Manual ventilation and an oxygen supplement may be indicated. Atropine may
increase the cardiac rate.
d
From circulatory failure with severe congestion of the lungs, liver, or kidney.
e
Some dogs and most cats will vomit within 5-10 minutes of injection. Cats may
also vomit on recovery.
f
Reversible hyperglycaemia due to depression of insulin secretion.
Dogs with a body weight of less than 10 kg may show the undesirable effects
mentioned above more often.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian,
to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the
national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package
leaflet for respective contact details.
Medetomidine may not provide analgesia throughout the entire period of sedation,
therefore consideration should be given to providing additional analgesia for
painful procedures.
Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
A clinical examination should be carried out in all animals before the use of
veterinary medicinal products for sedation and/or general anaesthesia.
Higher doses of medetomidine should be avoided in large breed dogs. Care
should be taken when combining medetomidine with other anaesthetics or
sedatives because of its marked anaesthetic sparing effects. The dose of the
anaesthetic should be reduced accordingly and titrated to response due to
considerable variability in requirements between patients. Before using any
combinations, the warnings and contra-indications in the veterinary medicinal
product literature for the other veterinary medicinal products should be observed.
Animals should be fasted 12 hours before anaesthesia.
The animal should be placed in a calm and quiet surrounding to let the sedation
gain its maximum effect. This takes about 10-15 minutes. One should not start any
procedure or give other medicines before maximum sedation is reached.
Treated animals should be kept warm and at a constant temperature, both during
the procedure and recovery.
The eyes should be protected by suitable lubricant. Nervous, aggressive or excited
animals should be given the possibility to calm down before initiation of treatment.
Sick and debilitated dogs and cats should only be premedicated with
medetomidine before induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia based on
a risk-benefit assessment.
Care should be taken with use of medetomidine in animals with cardiovascular
disease, or which are elderly or in general poor health. Liver and kidney function
should be evaluated prior to use.
As ketamine alone can elicit cramps, alpha-2 antagonists should be administered
not before 30-40 min. after ketamine.
Medetomidine may cause respiratory depression and under these circumstances,
manual ventilation and oxygen may be administered.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary
medicinal product to animals
- In the case of accidental oral ingestion or self-injection, seek medical advice
immediately and show the package label or leaflet to the physician but DO
NOT DRIVE as sedation and changes in blood pressure may occur.
- Avoid skin, eye or mucosal contact.
- Wash the exposed skin immediately after exposure with large amounts of
water.
- Remove contaminated clothes that are in direct contact with skin.
- In the case of accidental contact of the veterinary medicinal product with
eyes, rinse abundantly with fresh water. If symptoms occur, seek the advice
of a physician.
- If pregnant women handle the veterinary medicinal product, special caution
should be observed not to self-inject as uterine contractions and decreased
foetal blood pressure may occur after accidental systemic exposure.
Advice to physician:
Medetomidine is an alpha2-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.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.
therefore consideration should be given to providing additional analgesia for
painful procedures.
Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
A clinical examination should be carried out in all animals before the use of
veterinary medicinal products for sedation and/or general anaesthesia.
Higher doses of medetomidine should be avoided in large breed dogs. Care
should be taken when combining medetomidine with other anaesthetics or
sedatives because of its marked anaesthetic sparing effects. The dose of the
anaesthetic should be reduced accordingly and titrated to response due to
considerable variability in requirements between patients. Before using any
combinations, the warnings and contra-indications in the veterinary medicinal
product literature for the other veterinary medicinal products should be observed.
Animals should be fasted 12 hours before anaesthesia.
The animal should be placed in a calm and quiet surrounding to let the sedation
gain its maximum effect. This takes about 10-15 minutes. One should not start any
procedure or give other medicines before maximum sedation is reached.
Treated animals should be kept warm and at a constant temperature, both during
the procedure and recovery.
The eyes should be protected by suitable lubricant. Nervous, aggressive or excited
animals should be given the possibility to calm down before initiation of treatment.
Sick and debilitated dogs and cats should only be premedicated with
medetomidine before induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia based on
a risk-benefit assessment.
Care should be taken with use of medetomidine in animals with cardiovascular
disease, or which are elderly or in general poor health. Liver and kidney function
should be evaluated prior to use.
As ketamine alone can elicit cramps, alpha-2 antagonists should be administered
not before 30-40 min. after ketamine.
Medetomidine may cause respiratory depression and under these circumstances,
manual ventilation and oxygen may be administered.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary
medicinal product to animals
- In the case of accidental oral ingestion or self-injection, seek medical advice
immediately and show the package label or leaflet to the physician but DO
NOT DRIVE as sedation and changes in blood pressure may occur.
- Avoid skin, eye or mucosal contact.
- Wash the exposed skin immediately after exposure with large amounts of
water.
- Remove contaminated clothes that are in direct contact with skin.
- In the case of accidental contact of the veterinary medicinal product with
eyes, rinse abundantly with fresh water. If symptoms occur, seek the advice
of a physician.
- If pregnant women handle the veterinary medicinal product, special caution
should be observed not to self-inject as uterine contractions and decreased
foetal blood pressure may occur after accidental systemic exposure.
Advice to physician:
Medetomidine is an alpha2-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.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.
The concomitant administration of other central nervous system depressants
should be expected to potentiate the effect of either active substance. Appropriate
dose adjustment should be made.
Medetomidine has marked anaesthetic sparing effects. See also section 3.5.
The effects of medetomidine may be antagonized by administration of atipamezole
or yohimbine.
should be expected to potentiate the effect of either active substance. Appropriate
dose adjustment should be made.
Medetomidine has marked anaesthetic sparing effects. See also section 3.5.
The effects of medetomidine may be antagonized by administration of atipamezole
or yohimbine.
Do not freeze.
Not applicable.
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.
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Same active ingredient
Other Products Containing Medetomidine Hydrochloride
These products share the same active ingredient and may be suitable alternatives. Always consult your vet.
Domitor 1 mg/ml Solution for Injection
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Dormostart 1 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats
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injection
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Dormostart 1 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats
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injection
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Medetocord 1 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats
POM-VVetpharma Animal Health, S.L
injection
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Medetor 1 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dog and Cat
POM-VCP Pharma Handelsgesellschaft mbH
injection
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