Doses - OXYMORPHONE HCL

Dogs:

For sedation for minor procedures:
a) up to 0.2 mg/kg IM or IV; initially a maximum of 5 mg total dose (Combine withacepromazine 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IM or IV) (Shaw et al. 1986)
b) 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IV or 0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg IM, SQ (Morgan 1988)
For analgesia:
a) Intraoperative: 0.025 - 0.066 mg/kg IV (Shaw et al. 1986)
b) Postoperative: 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IM or IV (Shaw et al. 1986), (Reidesel )
For premedication to anesthesia in healthy dogs:
a) 0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg IM or IV (used with acepromazine and atropine or glycopyrrolateunless contraindicated. Thiopental/thiamylal dose may be reduced to 2 - 4 mg/kg whenusing high end of oxymorphone dose). (Shaw et al. 1986)
Induction of anesthesia in geriatric or sick dogs:
a) 0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg IM or IV; give incrementally to effect (administered alternately withdiazepam at 0.2 - 0.5 mg/kg; use with atropine or glycopyrrolate unless contraindicated;follow with halothane, methoxyflurane or isoflurane) (Shaw et al. 1986)
Facilitation of inhalation anesthesia without thiobarbiturates or ketamine in sight hounds:
a) up to 0.2 mg/kg IV or IM (Combine with acepromazine; use with atropine or glycopyrrolate unless contraindicated) (Shaw et al. 1986)

Cats:

For restraint/sedation for minor procedures:
a) 0.02 mg/kg IV (Morgan 1988)
b) 0.025 - 0.1 mg/kg IV (must be given with tranquilizer; e.g., acepromazine0.1 mg/kg) (Shaw et al. 1986)
c) 0.02 - 0.03 mg/kg IV or IM with or without another tranquilizer (Mandsager 1988)
As a preanesthetic/analgesic:
a) 0.1 - 0.4 mg/kg IV (Shaw et al. 1986)
As a postoperative analgesic:
a) 0.05 - 0.15 mg/kg IM or IV (must be given with tranquilizer; e.g., acepromazine 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IM in IV) (Shaw et al. 1986)

Horses:

As an analgesic:
a) 0.01 - 0.02 mg/kg IV (Muir 1987)
b) 0.01 - 0.022 mg/kg IV; up to 15mg total (divide dose into 3-4 increments and giveseveral minutes apart (Shaw et al. 1986)
c) 0.02 - 0.03 mg/kg IM (Robinson 1987)
d) 0.015 - 0.03 mg/kg IV (Thurmon and Benson 1987)
Anesthetic induction in severely compromised horses:
a) 0.01 - 0.022 mg/kg IV (after approx. 45 minutes, may be necessary to "top off" withanother 1/3 of the original dose) (Shaw et al. 1986)
Note: Narcotics (oxymorphone included) may cause CNS excitement in the horse. Someclinicians recommend pretreatment with acepromazine (0.02 - 0.04 mg/kg IV), orxylazine (0.3 - 0.5 mg/kg IV) to reduce the behavioral changes these drugs can cause.
Warning: Narcotic analgesics can mask the behavioral and cardiovascular symptoms associated with mild colic.

Swine:

To increase analgesia when used with ketamine (2 mg/kg)/xylazine (2 mg/kg):
a) 0.075 mg/kg IV (duration of anesthesia and recumbency: 20 - 30 minutes) (Shaw et al. 1986)
Rodents (hamsters, gerbils, rats, etc.):
Anesthetic/analgesic for minor surgical procedures:
a) 0.15 mg/kg IM (for a hamster-sized animal) (Shaw et al. 1986)
Monitoring Parameters -

1) Respiratory rate/depth

2) CNS level of depression/excitation

3) Blood pressure if possible and indicated (especially with IV use)

4) Analgesic activity

5) Cardiac rate
Client Information - When given parenterally, this agent should be used in an inpatient setting orwith direct professional supervision.
Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status/Withholding Times -
Veterinary-Approved Products: The veterinary labeled product is reportedly discontinued.

Human-Approved Products:

Oxymorphone HCl for Injection 1 mg/ml in 1 ml amps; 1.5 mg/ml in 1 ml amps and 10 ml vials;
Numorphan® (Du Pont); (Rx)
Oxymorphone HCl 5 mg suppositories in 6s.; Numorphan® (Du Pont); (Rx)
Note: Oxymorphone is a Class-II controlled substance. Very accurate record keeping is required as to use and disposition of stock.