The potent animal sedative that’s replacing tranq in street drugs — and making fentanyl even more deadly

The New York Post ^ | McKenzie Beard

[thegagline]

There’s a new beast on the streets — and it’s nothing to bark at.

A powerful animal tranquilizer is increasingly saturating the US drug supply, fueling mass overdose outbreaks in hot spots like Chicago and Philadelphia.

It was detected in New York last year, setting off alarm bells among public health officials. They warn that while its effects can mimic opioids such as fentanyl, there’s a dangerous catch: It doesn’t respond to conventional overdose-reversal treatments.

The drug, medetomidine, is a sedative used by veterinarians to relax muscles and relieve pain, often during surgery. It works by slowing the release of adrenaline in the brain and body.

It’s similar to xylazine, or tranq — a veterinary painkiller and muscle relaxant commonly cut into street drugs since about 2020 — but it’s even more dangerous. Experts say it can be up to 20 times more potent, meaning small amounts can be highly addictive.

Adding to the threat, medetomidine is cheap and easy to obtain, readily available online through suppliers of veterinary medicines and research chemicals. *** When people use medetomidine, it slows their heart rate and causes heavy sedation that can last for hours and even lead to coma. Users often experience side effects such as dizziness, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, blurred vision and confusion. *** But the real nightmare begins when the drug wears off.

Withdrawal can be so severe that many patients require intensive care. Life-threatening symptoms include dangerously high spikes in heart rate and blood pressure — high enough to cause brain damage — along with uncontrollable vomiting, tremors and profuse sweating.

***

[thegagline]

Man’s never ending quest to distort and escape reality. Still no vaccine to prevent COVID.

Life is short
Filled with stuff
Don't know what for
I ain't had enough
I want some new kind of kick
I want some new kind of kick

The Cramps

[ConservativeMind]

Would you include this drug in the “War on Drugs,” or give it a pass?

I haven’t heard of this one.

[ClearCase_guy]

Withdrawal can be so severe that many patients require intensive care.

Why bother?

[MrRelevant]

The real question is ….. can Narcan save them from dying?

[Abathar]

The real question is ….. can Narcan save them from dying?

""It doesn’t respond to conventional overdose-reversal treatments.""

From the sounds of it, Nope.

[sheana]

50 years ago there were people using animal tranqs. Don’t remember the name but I remember the incidents. Was working in a bar at the time and saw a lot of crap happen because of people on it.

[fella]

The big question is;

With all these drug boats getting sunk how much has the cost of drugs risen on the street?

[RummyChick]

Maybe. Because it is often combined with things NARCAN does work on

https://www.substanceusephilly.com/medetomidine

Btw, I looked up whether the “white feet don’t treat” saying applies to this drug. It seems caution is warranted in those dogs with M1dr1 mutation such as collies even though it isn’t an opioid.

I have a mutation in that gene which affects blood brain barrier.

Clinical pharmacology is so overlooked by doctors.

[thegagline]

The real question is ….. can Narcan save them from dying?

The answer to that query is found in the article.

[thegagline]

With all these drug boats getting sunk how much has the cost of drugs risen on the street?

Since fentanyl comes from Mexico with the help of Communist China, those prices are unaffected by Venezuelan drug boats being eliminated. It also appears that pot and cocaine prices at the street level are unaffected. Trump’s animus towards Maduro and the resultant missile attacks are probably more fueled by Maduro slighting Trump back during Trump’s first term than Venezuelan drug trade which pales compared to China, Mexico, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Philippines etc.

[PGR88]

“There’s a war going on. The battlefield is the mind. And the prize is your soul.”

Prince.

[Dr. Sivana]

Don’t remember the name but I remember the incidents.

PCP, horse tranquilizer.

[No name given]

I’d include it.

[sheana]

Yep. Did a real number on people. They couldn’t feel a thing.

[paulcissa]

Hidden genius.

[Lurker]

I saw them back in the day.

L

[NorthMountain]

When people use medetomidine, it slows their heart rate and causes heavy sedation that can last for hours and even lead to coma. Users often experience side effects such as dizziness, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, blurred vision and confusion. *** But the real nightmare begins when the drug wears off. Withdrawal can be so severe that many patients require intensive care. Life-threatening symptoms include dangerously high spikes in heart rate and blood pressure — high enough to cause brain damage — along with uncontrollable vomiting, tremors and profuse sweating.

Sounds like a totally fun time. Groovy, maaaaan ...

Can't wait to not try it.

[vetvetdoug]

50 years ago in practice we only had to account for the barbiturates. Around 2015 the DEA got their panties in a wad and we had to account for every drop of ketamine. Butorphanol was next and had to be locked up. Now xylazine and detomadine are being abused and will likely be put on the control list too. I'm glad I'm retired.

[Prince of Space]

Was it PCP?

[packrat35]

Keith moon famously passed out during a concert from using animal tranqs and a fan had to stand in to finish the show.