What is Xylazine, the medication that’s been dubbed a “zombie drug” in the US?

The closest that any of us has come to a zombie apocalypse has probably been while watching shows like The Last of Us or playing video games like Resident Evil. However, it looks like we might be one step closer to experiencing something similar in the real world as well. Xylazine, a medication in the US that’s also known as tranq, is reportedly causing horrific side effects including, but not limited to, making users’ skin rot — leading some people to describe it as a “zombie drug”.

Health professionals are alarmed about this medication’s terrible side effects on the human body. According to the New York Post, the zombie drug had been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for veterinary purposes, but in recent years it has been found in fentanyl and other illicit drugs as well.

A new medicine, called Xylazine, or “tranq” has unleashed havoc in cities across the US by causing deadly symptoms including skin rotting. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the nation licenced this “zombie drug” for use in veterinary medicine. #xylazine #tranq #drugs #us pic.twitter.com/9gyPAxiOjU

— TheoryOrb (@theoryorb) February 23, 2023

What is Xylazine (tranq)?

Primarily used as a veterinary sedative and analgesic, Xylazine is a type of alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, which in simple English means that it works by binding to specific receptors in the nervous system that regulate the release of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine.

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In veterinary medicine, xylazine injections are commonly used to sedate animals for surgeries and to provide pain relief. It can also be used to calm animals that are anxious or aggressive. According to the FDA, the harmful drug has never been approved for human consumption, although it has seen an increase in illicit use as a recreational drug by being cut in dope to increase its legs. Also known as ‘tranq’, the substance significantly increases the chances of overdose when mixed with another drug like heroin or fentanyl.

It is considered to be a controlled substance and can be highly dangerous if used improperly. The conmon side effects of xylazine includes serious wounds that can be difficult to heal on its own, and can also induce severe drowsiness, slow heart rate, low blood pressure and respiratory depression.

What are the ‘zombie-like’ side effects of Xylazine?

A New Drug is Causing Horror on #US streets

★ #TranqDope is a mix of #Fentanyl, the opioid that has decimated America’s youth,
and a veterinary drug called #Xylazine. It is sold on the street for just a few dollars a bag.
Xylazine is a sedative for use in cows and horses. pic.twitter.com/TMbmfG19X6

— Landon Maccann (@LandonMaccann) February 16, 2023

These days, Xylazine or tranq is being infamously called a ‘zombie drug’ because of its powerful sedative effects that can make people appear in a trance or ‘zombie-like‘ state.

The other alarming side effect is the visible rotting of the skin and the subsequent appearance of eschar. For those not aware of the term, eschar refers to a scaly crust of dead tissue that eventually sloughs off healthy skin after an injury. When used inappropriately, Xylazine can be highly dangerous, and can even lead to respiratory failure and/or death. Only licensed veterinarians are authorised to use xylazine, and only for animals. Using it without proper medical supervision is extremely dangerous and potentially lethal.

This story first appeared on Augustman Singapore

(Main and featured image: Raghavendra V. Konkathi/Unsplash and Kevin Bidwell)