Etorphine

ETORPHINE

  • Etorphine  is a narcotic drug to be used with more clinical cautions. This is the synthetic derivative of opium alkaloid and has about ten thousand times the analgesic properties of morphine sulphate.
  • This drug has 10,000 times the analgesic properties of morphine. Anaesthesia occurs in ten to twenty minutes.
  • Recovery is slow without antidote and in such occasions, the recovery may take as much as seven hours. However, when antidote is used, the wild animal may become mobile or ambulatory within a period of about four to ten minutes.
  • Legal formalities are to be taken care of while using etorphine like drugs.
  • The animal may have tachycardia and may either get stimulated or depressed depending on the dose-response and the species of the wild animal.

Use of etorphine in wild animal

  • This drug is used in large sized herbivores like elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, sambar deer etc. Large animal formulation of Immobilon contains 2.45 mg/ml Etorphine mixed with 10mg/ml Acepromazine maleate which is a phenothiazine derivative.

Antidote

  • Diprenorphine is the antidote to be used for etorphine. The standard dose is double the amount of etorphine injected.
  • Cautions to be undertaken while using etorphine
    • Should not be used with atropine, since the atropine may reduce the solubility of the drug.
    • Animal may develop hyperthermia
    • Passive regurgitation may occur in cases of prolonged immobilization with etorphine
    • Injured wild animals may require slightly high dose rate of etorphine
    • Human-health hazard related factors need to be taken care of like avoidance of accidental falling on skin or eyes of the handling wildlife veterinarian and person who knows how to give I/V in human being may accompany the operation and such action may be of useful in cases of accidental emergencies. Equipment for artificial respiration should be available in the spot. Always wear gloves and glasses during usage of etorphine. When morphine drugs are handled, a stock of Narcan (human antidote) and diprenorphine (animal antidote) must always be available.
Last modified: Friday, 27 April 2012, 8:04 AM