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. 2023 Mar 1;123(3):20-21.
doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000921792.11581.83.

Illicit Drugs May Contain Veterinary Tranquilizer

Diane S Aschenbrenner  1
Affiliations

Illicit Drugs May Contain Veterinary Tranquilizer

Diane S Aschenbrenner. Am J Nurs. .

Abstract

There has been a rise in illicit drugs such as fentanyl being mixed with xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer. Xylazine is not an opioid; although opioids and xylazine induce similar respiratory symptoms, naloxone will not reverse a xylazine overdose. Severe necrotic skin ulcerations are also possible from frequent exposure to xylazine.Nurses who encounter patients with severe necrotic skin ulcerations or respiratory symptoms should consider xylazine overdose and attempt to determine if xylazine abuse is the root cause.

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