Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Dexmedetomidine is a sedative that activates alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the brain, producing a calm, sleep-like state from which people can still be woken, with little effect on breathing. It is used for sedation in intensive care and during procedures, and as a film under the tongue for agitation in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is sold as Precedex and Igalmi.
Dexmedetomidine is cleared mainly by UGT enzymes and CYP2A6. Most gene studies on it looked at ADRA2A, the gene for the receptor it acts on, for how sedated people became and how much they needed, and at CYP2A6 for its clearance. The findings come from single or a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Dexmedetomidine. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
PRKCB rs9922316: Level 3. Other. 1.
ADRA2A rs1800544: Level 3. Other. 1.
ADRA2A rs1800035: Level 3. Efficacy: Pain, Postoperative. 1.
ADRA2A rs201376588: Level 3. Efficacy: Pain, Postoperative. 1.
Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Studies of how much of the drug people needed or tolerated.
Studies of side effects in people carrying a variant.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
ReadYourDNA provides educational interpretation of DNA data you already have. It is not diagnostic, not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to a clinician before acting on any result.
Raw DNA Data Reports for 23andMe & AncestryDNA · About ReadYourDNA · FAQ · Methodology & Science · Pricing · Support and complaints · Legal & Contact · Health Traits · Pharmacogenomics · Carrier Status · Variant Explorer · The Human Karyotype · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service · Accessibility · Consumer Health Data Privacy · Your Privacy Choices · Editorial Standards · Your Data, Checkable · Sample Report · ReadYourDNA and Promethease compared · What is inside a 23andMe raw data file · What is inside an AncestryDNA raw data file · What a chatbot can and cannot do with your raw DNA file · Where a raw DNA file can still be uploaded in 2026
Written, maintained and operated by Martin Pechhacker, sole proprietor, Vienna, Austria. Trade register GISA 40064420. support@readyourdna.com