Does intranasal dexmedetomidine provide adequate plasma concentrations for sedation in children: a pharmacokinetic study

Mean arterial plasma concentrations of dexmedetomidine in infants and toddlers approached 100 pg ml−1, the low end reported for sedative efficacy, within 20 min of an atomised intranasal administration of 1 μg kg−1. Doubling the dose to 2 μg kg−1 reached this plasma concentration within 10 min and achieved almost twice the peak concentration. Peak plasma concentrations with both doses were reached within 47 min of intranasal administration, with an overall bioavailability of 84%.