Sedation and Physiological Effects of Intranasal Dexmedetomidine in Severe COPD

A variety of medications have been used to treat the anxiety, discomfort, and fear
associated with continuous and sudden episodic breathlessness in patients with advanced
respiratory disease. Opioids and benzodiazepines, used alone or in combination, are commonly
prescribed for this distressing symptom. Clinicians are concerned about the adverse effects
of opioids, especially respiratory depression, so they frequently prescribe benzodiazepines.
Recent studies have shown that benzodiazepine use is associated with increased adverse
respiratory outcomes in older adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Dexmedetomidine may be an alternative to current drug therapies for breathlessness.
Dexmedetomidine produces a dose dependent sedation, anxiolysis, and analgesia without
respiratory depression or cognitive dysfunction. The drug can be administered intranasally
to induce light to moderate sedation of several hours duration.

The objective of the proposed research, a pilot study, is to assess the dose dependent
safety and efficacy of intranasal dexmedetomidine in clinically stable patients with severe
COPD. This will be accomplished in a staffed acute care setting with routine vital signs
monitoring and pulse oximetry. Patients will be assessed objectively and subjectively for
their level of sedation by validated sedation scales.

This pilot study is an initial investigation of a drug with favorable pharmacologic
properties in this patient population with distressing and difficult to treat symptoms. The
pilot study may provide evidence that a larger trial is needed to confirm the study results,
or evidence that additional study in symptomatic patients and treatment comparison trials
should be pursued.