Intranasal Dexmedetomidine

Intranasal delivery avoids venipuncture and intramuscular injection pain. Intranasal dexmedetomidine has practical administration advantages including high bioavailability, simplicity, convenience, and no mucosal irritation. Intranasal dexmedetomidine has shown benefits for anxiety-related insomnia, chronic insomnia, pediatric refractory sleep disturbance, and sleep disorders in elderly general anesthesia patients. Intranasal dexmedetomidine has a slower onset and a more favorable cardiovascular safety profile than IV bolus administration. Evidence for intranasal dexmedetomidine remains uncertain because existing studies are small, diverse, and inconsistent in quality. Intranasal dexmedetomidine is being evaluated as a perioperative treatment for sleep disturbance.