Faculty Physician University of Maryland Hanover, Maryland
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Disclosure(s):
Sarah Lee, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
There’s a new drug on the streets: tranq-dope. Traditionally used by veterinarians as a horse tranquilizer, xylazine is now increasingly linked to street drug abuse and overdose deaths. A growing number of patients are exposed to xylazine through the illicit opioid and cocaine supply. The presence of xylazine not only puts patients at risk of respiratory and cutaneous complications, but also creates an increased strain on our public health and emergency medical services. This talk will discuss when to suspect xylazine involvement in drug abuse and how it may complicate your patient’s overdose presentation, making standard treatments like naloxone less effective.
Learning Objectives:
describe the pharmacology of xylazine and its effects on the central nervous system.
recognize when xylazine involvement should be suspected in drug overdoses.
understand how to manage xylazine-related toxicity in the ED setting.
