Alfaxalone

Alfaxalone

Systematic (IUPAC) name
3-hydroxypregnane-11,20-dione
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	?
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	The alfaxalone molecule is solubilised in the Alfaxan formulation using 2α- hydroxypropyl β cyclodextrin. Cyclodextrins are complex polysaccharides derived from starch that supply a hydrophobic centre for lipophilic drugs like alfaxalone.
Identifiers
CAS number	23930-19-0 N
ATC code	N01AX05
PubChem	CID 104845
ChemSpider	94637 Y
UNII	BD07M97B2A Y
KEGG	D07282 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL190279 Y
Chemical data
Formula	C21H32O3
Mol. mass	332.477 g/mol
SMILES O=C2[C@H]3[C@H]([C@@H]1CC[C@H](C(=O)C)[C@@]1(C)C2)CC[C@H]4C[C@H](O)CC[C@]34C
InChI InChI=1S/C21H32O3/c1-12(22)16-6-7-17-15-5-4-13-10-14(23)8-9-20(13,2)19(15)18(24)11-21(16,17)3/h13-17,19,23H,4-11H2,1-3H3/t13-,14+,15-,16+,17-,19+,20-,21+/m0/s1 Y Key:DUHUCHOQIDJXAT-OLVMNOGESA-N Y
N (what is this?)  (verify)

Alfaxalone (INN, also known as alphaxalone or alphaxolone) is a neurosteroid general anaesthetic.

It is one of the constituents of althesin.

It is used in veterinary practice under the tradename Alfaxan.

It is licensed for use in both dogs and cats.^{[citation needed]}

Unlike some of its predecessors alfaxalone is not associated with histamine release and anaphylaxis.^{[citation needed]}

A study 1987 found the primary mechanism for the anaesthetic action of alfaxalone to be modulation of neuronal cell membrane chloride ion transport, induced by binding of alfaxalone to GABA_A cell surface receptors.

A 1994 study found that alfaxalone binds to a different region of this receptor than the benzodiazepines.

Alfaxalone is metabolised rapidly in the liver. Alfaxalone has a very short plasma elimination half-life in dogs and cats.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Ganaxolone
• Minaxolone