Letter To The Editor: “Xylazine abuse: A rare cause of syncope”

Liu, Changming; Chiu, Ming‐Jang; Chen, Wen‐Jone

doi:10.1080/15563650601073520

Cited by 25 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…There are no significant studies however, in regard to the impact upon the health of xylazine users, neither the combination of speedball and xylazine. Xylazine structurally belong to the phenothiazine drug family [4, 48]; these drugs are a class of compounds which interact with dopamine receptor as antagonist in the central nervous system (CNS) and other receptor depending on the chemical structure substitutions [49]. The relation among chemical structures is illustrated in the Figure 5.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxic effects of xylazine on endothelial cells in combination with cocaine and 6-monoacetylmorphine

Silva-Torres

Vélez

Alvarez

et al. 2014

Toxicology in Vitro

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The use of xylazine as a drug of abuse has emerged worldwide in the last 7 years, including Puerto Rico. Clinical findings reported that xylazine users present greater physiological deterioration, than heroin users. The aim of this study was to assess the xylazine toxicity on endothelial cells, as this is one of the first tissues impact upon administration. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture were treated with xylazine, cocaine, 6-monoacetylmorphine (heroin metabolite) and its combinations, at concentrations of 0.10 µM to 400 µM, for periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours. IC50 were calculated and the Annexin V assay implemented to determine the cell death mechanism. Results indicated IC50 values at 24 hours as follow: xylazine 62 µM, cocaine 210 µM, 6-monoacetylmorphine 300 µM. When these drugs were combined the IC50 value was 57 µM. Annexin V results indicated cell death by an apoptosis mechanism in cells treated with xylazine or in combination. Results demonstrated that xylazine use inhibits the endothelial cell proliferation, at lower concentrations than cocaine and 6-monoacetylmorphine. These findings contribute to the understanding of the toxicity mechanisms induced by xylazine on endothelial cells.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxic effects of xylazine on endothelial cells in combination with cocaine and 6-monoacetylmorphine

Silva-Torres

Vélez

Alvarez

et al. 2014

Toxicology in Vitro

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“…Although many of the participants of our focus groups reported knowing how to recognize the presence of xylazine in a mixture of speedball, awareness should be raised among drug users of the possible presence of xylazine in drug mixtures. In case of an intoxication, Barroso and collaborators 2 and Liu et al 15 have recommended the administration of IV fluids, atropine, and hospital observation. In some cases, endotracheal intubation may be needed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…15 While determining differential diagnostic, it is recommended to consider xylazine use in case of orthostatic hypotension and bradycardia without neurological symptoms. 15 Some limitations should be considered when interpreting the results of this study. First, xylazine use was based on self-reports, and thus, its reports were subject to recall bias and denial.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several cases of human xylazine intoxication have been documented, which include initial hypertension followed by hypotension, bradycardia, 2 orthostatic hypotension, and respiratory depression. 15 According to Abramovic and The geographical area variable was not included in the logistic regression because all participants of rural area reported xylazine use during the last year THE EMERGING OF XYLAZINE AS A NEW DRUG OF ABUSEcollaborators, 1 most of these factors can influence the skin by lowering tissue oxygenation. Several clinical reports have suggested that lower skin oxygenation is associated with less wound healing and higher incidence of wound infection.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Emerging of Xylazine as a New Drug of Abuse and its Health Consequences among Drug Users in Puerto Rico

et al. 2012

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During the last decade, the veterinary anesthetics have gained popularity as recreational drugs. The aim of this study was to document the use of "anestecia de caballo" (xylazine) and its consequences among drug users in Puerto Rico. The study combined a cross-sectional survey with 89 drug users and two focus groups conducted in Mayagüez with frontline drug treatment providers. Drug users were recruited from communities of the San Juan metropolitan area using a variety of ethnographic and outreach strategies. A short questionnaire developed for the study collected information on sociodemographics, xylazine use, and its consequences. The two focus groups were conducted to discuss the details related to xylazine use, its consequences, and utilization awareness. The sample comprised 63 males (70.8%) and 26 females with a mean age of 37.2 years. The mean number of years of drug use was 14.3, with a mean frequency of drug use of 5.9 times daily. More than 65% reported speedball as the principal drug of use. The prevalence of xylazine use was 80.7%. More than 42% of the sample used xylazine in a mixture with speedball. The main route of administration of xylazine was injection but 14% reported the use of xylazine by inhalation. More than 35% of the sample reported skin lesions and 21.1% reported at least one overdose episode. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that males (OR=3.47, CI=1.10-12.00) and those who reported speedball as their main drug of use (OR=9.34, CI=2.51-34.70) were significantly more likely to be xylazine users. Focus groups revealed that drug users claimed to recognize the presence of xylaxine in a mixture of speedball based on its effects, taste, the color of the drug (dark brown), and its odor. In conclusion, the use of xylazine among drug users in Puerto Rico seems to be an emerging trend with potentially serious health consequences.

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“…In contrast, unregulated animal drugs, such as Zoletil and Xylazine, which can be easily obtained by anyone from a pharmacy without veterinarian's prescription, are primary problems in Korea. Owing to their detrimental physical and psychological effects on humans [1,7,8,11,13,14], the illegal circulation of these drugs should be prohibited. Although the abuse of unregulated drugs represents only a small portion of total drug abuse, the importance of the abuse depends directly on how easily these drugs are available to the public and on how easily they can be purchased [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey of the use of veterinary anesthetics in Korea

Lee¹,

Lee²,

Cho³

et al. 2014

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research

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Abstracts : This study was conducted to investigate actual conditions associated with veterinary anesthetic drug use in Korea, and to obtain responses from Korean veterinarians and researchers pertaining to the use of anesthetic drugs. To accomplish this, a nationwide survey was issued to veterinarians working at animal hospitals and to researchers in the Korean Association for Laboratory Animal Science (KALAS). A self-administered questionnaire-based survey was then conducted in which respondents were asked questions about actual conditions associated with the use of animal anesthetic drugs. The survey revealed that the distribution and management of animal medicines in Korea was quite vulnerable to misuse or abuse due to a variety of factors. Therefore, a relevant regulatory system should be strictly enforced to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse or misuse.

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Letter To The Editor: “Xylazine abuse: A rare cause of syncope”

Cited by 25 publications

References 11 publications

Toxic effects of xylazine on endothelial cells in combination with cocaine and 6-monoacetylmorphine

Toxic effects of xylazine on endothelial cells in combination with cocaine and 6-monoacetylmorphine

The Emerging of Xylazine as a New Drug of Abuse and its Health Consequences among Drug Users in Puerto Rico

A survey of the use of veterinary anesthetics in Korea

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