Study of anaesthetic effect of ketamine and midazolam as separate and concomitant sublingual administration in animal model

Ketamine is a suitable injectable anesthetic in human and animal that has a low intestinal absorption rate. It's bioavailability in human with oral administration is %207 and with rectal administration in cat is %43.56.1 .this drug has some side effects such as hypertension, histamine releasing effects , hallucination , hyper salivation (specially with oral administration) and etc. Midazolam is a short acting benzodiazepine that can pass trough blood-brain barrier and causes CNS suppression. Then it seems that co administration of Midazolam and ketamine cause more effective & deep CNS depression effects. The aim of this study was evaluation of ketamine and Midazolam CNS suppression effects in the manner of single and together in cat. Ten free roaming male & mature cats received drugs [ketamine (20, 40, 80mg/kg) & Midazolam (0.3, 0.6, 1.2mg/kg)] first in mixture of milk 40ml) or meat (30g) or sublingual spray rout. In 2nd stage they received concomitant doses of Midazolam & ketamine by the method mentioned above. Each animal was observed continually by educated observer for CNS depression as graded on the behavioral scales. Almost all of the animals rejected receiving drugs in mixture of milk and meat. So subligual spray rout used for oral administration of drugs. Ketamine & Midazolam showed a dose dependent effect in different administered doses. Concomitant use of Midazolam with ketamine improved ketamine's CNS depression effects. Also duration of CNS depression was longer with co administration of these two drugs. Results showed that administration of ketamine & Midazolam in mixture of milk & meat is not a suitable method in cats. But a strong and long time CNS depression is achieved when ketamine sprayed in mouth (as sublingual form).