Tiletamine-zolazepam use requires a facility able to manage prolonged recovery.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not necessarily
• D. Only for certain species

Answer: (A)

Tiletamine-zolazepam (Telazol) combines a dissociative anesthetic with a benzodiazepine, and its recovery can be unpredictable and extended. The zolazepam portion provides benzodiazepine sedation that often lasts longer than the tiletamine effects, leading to a longer and sometimes variable emergence from anesthesia. While flumazenil can reverse zolazepam, there is no reversal for tiletamine, so overall recovery may remain depressed or prolonged even if part of the sedative effects are reversed. Because of this potential for a lengthy and variable recovery, the procedure should be performed in a facility that can closely monitor and support the patient through an extended recovery period—ensuring airway management, oxygen support, temperature regulation, fluids, analgesia, and the ability to address any complications as they arise. This is particularly true in populations where recovery tends to be more prolonged, such as cats or patients with hepatic impairment or other risk factors.