Animal tranquilizer medetomidine showing up in Pittsburgh's illegal drug supply, doctor says
Medetomidine is not approved for human use, but doctors say people are using it.
"We know it's probably in about half to three-quarters of our drug supply," said Dr. Michael Lynch, the senior medical director of quality and substance abuse services with UPMC.
"What are some of the side effects?" KDKA-TV's Mamie Bah asked.
"Depress your breathing a little bit, lowers your heart rate, and, to a lesser degree, can lower your blood pressure. And it can last for several hours where people are very, very sleepy," Dr. Lynch explained.
In some cases, people may die.
Like other drugs, it comes in a bag mixed with other opioids. Lynch said over the last year, it's become more popular.
Lynch said doctors are treating these patients by giving naloxone, "which does work for the opioid, including fentanyl, so it helps the breathing to resume, but people don't necessarily wake up."
Health experts say the goal is for someone to just start breathing again. They keep an eye on patients and give them time to sleep it off.
The drug first appeared in the illegal U.S drug supply nearly a year ago, according to the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education.
Lynch said the drug caught them off guard, but they are adjusting.
"It is so different and so severe and progresses so rapidly and doesn't respond to the usual treatments that we use for withdrawal from different substances like alcohol or opioids or benzodiazepines. So, we had to adjust and adapt."
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