Azaperone

Not to be confused with azapirone.

Azaperone

Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
Routes of administration	IM
ATCvet code	QN01AX91 (WHO) QN05AD90 (WHO)
Pharmacokinetic data
Metabolism	Hepatic
Biological half-life	4 hours
Identifiers
IUPAC name 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(4-pyridin-2-ylpiperazin-1-yl)butan-1-one
CAS Number	1649-18-9 N
PubChem CID	15443
ChemSpider	14695 Y
UNII	19BV78AK7W
KEGG	D02620 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:88301 N
ChEMBL	CHEMBL340211 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.015.197
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C19H22FN3O
Molar mass	327.396 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
Melting point	90 to 95 °C (194 to 203 °F)
SMILES Fc1ccc(cc1)C(=O)CCCN3CCN(c2ncccc2)CC3
InChI InChI=1S/C19H22FN3O/c20-17-8-6-16(7-9-17)18(24)4-3-11-22-12-14-23(15-13-22)19-5-1-2-10-21-19/h1-2,5-10H,3-4,11-15H2 Y Key:XTKDAFGWCDAMPY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Azaperone is a pyridinylpiperazine and butyrophenone neuroleptic drug with sedative and antiemetic effects, which is used mainly as a tranquilizer in veterinary medicine. It is uncommonly used in humans as an antipsychotic drug.

Azaperone acts primarily as a dopamine antagonist but also has some antihistaminic and anticholinergic properties as seen with similar drugs such as haloperidol. Azaperone may cause hypotension and while it has minimal effects on respiration in pigs, high doses in humans can cause respiratory depression.

Veterinary use

The most common use for azaperone is in relatively small doses to reduce aggression in farmed pigs, either to stop them fighting or to encourage sows to accept piglets. Higher doses are used for anesthesia in combination with other drugs such as xylazine, tiletamine and zolazepam. Azaperone is also used in combination with strong narcotics such as etorphine or carfentanil for tranquilizing large animals such as elephants. Use in horses is avoided as adverse reactions may occur.

The European Medicines Agency has established a maximum residue limit for azaperone when administered to pigs.

Azaperone (under the brand name Stresnil) was approved for use in pigs in the USA in 1983, under NADA 115-732.