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You Think Tranq Is Bad? Meet Medetomidine

Attempts to rein in illicit fentanyl or control the chemicals used to synthesize it resulted in even more dangerous drugs, for example, fluorofentanyl, xylazine, nitazenes, and U-47700. Predictably, there's a new kid on the block called medetomidine. How much harm will it do to drug users? Hard to say because the drug is not (yet) widely used to spike other drugs, especially fentanyl. But there are some clues from veterinary medicine, where it is routinely used as a general anesthetic.

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 As Policymakers Begin to Crack Down on Xylazine (Tranq), They Should Get Ready for Medetomidine

Like xylazine, medetomidine is a potent veterinary anesthetic/​analgesic. Estimated to be 200 times more powerful than xylazine, PAGround​hogs​.org, a Pennsylvania non‐​profit harm‐​reduction drug testing organization, found it in two bags of fentanyl in Philadelphia and two dozen samples from Pittsburgh, Cambria County, and Blair County in Pennsylvania. Look for medetomidine to become more prevalent if policymakers make it more difficult for drug traffickers to access xylazine.

 Medetomidine Rapidly Proliferating Across USA — Implicated In Recreational Opioid Drug Supply & Causing Overdose Outbreaks

Medetomidine is an alpha-2 agonist, belonging to the same family of drugs as xylazine and clonidine. Medetomidine is synthetically manufactured and exists in two enantiomeric forms: dexmedetomidine and levomedetomidine, the former being active and potent. Dexmedetomidine is approved for use in humans and is administered in hospital, while differing forms of medetomidine are available for use in veterinary medicine. The effects of medetomidine can include sedation, analgesia, muscle relaxation, anxiolysis, bradycardia, hypotension, hyperglycemia, and hallucinations. Duration of action is noted to be longer for medetomidine relative to xylazine.

Articles of Interest

A review of the physiological effects of α2-agonists related to the clinical use of medetomidine in small animal practice

Medetomidine is a relatively new sedative analgesic drug that is approved for use in dogs in Canada. It is the most potent α2-adrenoreceptor available for clinical use in veterinary medicine and stimulates receptors centrally to produce dose-dependent sedation and analgesia.

Gangs mix another potent sedative into U.S. street drugs causing 'mass overdoses'

Public health officials say Mexican cartels and drug gangs inside the U.S. are mixing a dangerous chemical sedative called medetomidine into fentanyl and other drugs sold on the street. The combination triggered a new wave of overdoses that began in late April and have accelerated in May.

Medetomidine: “New” veterinary tranquilizer circulating in Toronto’s unregulated fentanyl supply

Medetomidine/dexmedetomidine may put those who use it in a deep state of unconsciousness, much like xylazine and benzodiazepine-related drugs. The risk of extreme drowsiness and sedation is increased when medetomidine/dexmedetomidine is used in combination with high-potency opioids, benzodiazepine-related drugs, and xylazine.

New ‘zombie drug’ causing overdoses across US

Medetomidine, a synthetic drug used as an animal tranquilizer, is the latest street drug to appear alongside fentanyl. It reportedly causes “heightened sedation” and “profound bradycardia,” or slowed heart rate, according to researchers.

Philly health officials detect a veterinary sedative more powerful than xylazine in drug samples

The animal tranquilizer xylazine’s spread into Philadelphia’s illicit opioid supply has introduced new hazards to an already-dangerous drug crisis, sending people in addiction into intense blackouts and leaving them with severe skin wounds. Now, another veterinary sedative more potent than xylazine has emerged. The discovery of the drug, known as medetomidine, in drug samples in the city is another sign of increasing toxicity in the Philadelphia region’s illicit drugs.

What to know about medetomidine, the latest sedative found in illicit Indy drug supplies

Medetomidine has similar effects to xylazine, including slowing the heart rate (bradycardia), hypotension and central nervous system depression.

Resources

Medetomidine

It is currently approved for dogs in the United States, and distributed in the United States by Pfizer Animal Health and by Novartis Animal Health in Canada under the product name Domitor. The marketed product is a racemic mixture of two stereoisomers; dexmedetomidine is the isomer with more useful effects, and is now marketed as Dexdomitor.