In Michigan, residents are being warned about a new drug that has been linked to overdose deaths – medetomidine. This veterinary tranquilizer is similar to xylazine, a powerful sedative used in veterinary medicine and often mixed with fentanyl in the illicit drug trade. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for use in humans, but officials have stated that it can cause serious adverse effects such as slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, and decreases in brain and spinal cord activity.
Since March, three overdose deaths in Michigan have been linked to medetomidine during toxicology testing. These deaths occurred in Ingham, Berrien, and Wayne counties, with fentanyl and other potent manufactured drugs also being identified in the toxicology reports. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the chief medical executive, emphasized the danger of medetomidine and urged Michigan residents to be aware of this new drug and its risks, especially when combined with opioids like fentanyl. While naloxone may not directly reverse the effects of medetomidine or xylazine, it can still be effective in preventing overdose when combined with opioid drugs.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is advising local organizations, health care providers
