An α2-AR agonist (EC50 = 0.65 μM for contraction of canine sapheneous veins); induces concentration-dependent inhibition of the twitch response in rat vas deferens and guinea pig ileum; induces sedation and reduces motor activity in mice, an effect that is reversed by the α2-AR antagonist yohimbine; decreases blood pressure and cardiac output in cats injected with 30 μg/kg intracisternally; exhibits antinociceptive effects in mice (ED50s = 12.5, 20.5, and 6.1 mg/kg for the tail-immersion, tail-pinch, and acetic acid writhing tests, respectively)