A REVIEW ON APPLICATIONS OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE (BXCL501) IN CNS DISORDERS

Abstract

A drug that subdues exhilaration and produces a calming effect in the subject without necessarily inducing sleep is referred to as sedative. The main system for action of these drugs is the Central Nervous System (CNS). Sedatives are slow working drugs with a levelled dose response curve. They act by modifying nerve responses in CNS to the brain which slows down brain activity thus relaxing the body. Gamma-amino-Butyric acid (GABA) is neurotransmitter which is responsible for retarding the brain functioning and sedatives increase the activity of GABA to produce more effect on the brain activity. Mostly sedatives are used to treat sleep disorders, pain or as anaesthetics. Opioids are sedatives used to treat pain, but long-term usage of these drugs leads to dependency and addiction which may be a challenge to treat. People experience withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, anxiety, insomnia and/or irritability along with seizures and loss of consciousness in some extreme cases. BXCL501 is a formulation of Dexmedetomidine used to treat agitation and symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The drug is designed in such a manner that it reduces agitation but does not produce excessive sedation. The RELEASE clinical trial of “bioxcel therapeutics” lead to the use of this drug to treat or retard opioid withdrawal symptoms and agitations. This article is aimed at reviewing and summarising existing data concerning the synthesis, chemical taxonomy, properties, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profile, side effects, interactions, toxicology of dexmedetomidine.