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Researchers at Marshall College have developed a promising therapy technique to deal with overdoses involving fentanyl and the veterinary sedative xylazine, a mix more and more linked to extreme well being issues and decreased effectiveness of ordinary overdose reversal brokers.
In a brand new research printed within the Journal of Translational Analysis, Michael Hambuchen, PharmD, Ph.D., affiliate professor on the Marshall College Faculty of Pharmacy, and pharmacy graduate scholar Jyostna Yalakala, BVSc, MS, in collaboration with Marshall College Joan C. Edwards Faculty of Drugs scientific researcher Todd Davies, Ph.D., affiliate director of analysis and improvement within the Division of Habit Sciences, and dependancy medication fellowship crew, report that combining naloxone with the investigational drug atipamezole dramatically improves restoration outcomes in animal fashions of fentanyl-xylazine overdose.
“Adding even a low dose of atipamezole—already tested safely in humans for other indications—to naloxone rapidly restored consciousness in rats exposed to fentanyl and xylazine,” stated Hambuchen, senior creator of the research. “We also saw improvements in heart rate, blood glucose and body temperature, which are all severely disrupted by this dangerous drug combination.”
Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer not permitted for human use, is more and more discovered as a contaminant in illicit fentanyl provides. The mixture ends in profound sedation, impaired respiration, dangerously low coronary heart fee, lowered physique temperature and elevated blood glucose, and persistent use is related to severe pores and skin ulcers. Compounding the hazard, xylazine will not be an opioid and is due to this fact immune to reversal by naloxone alone.
“The collaboration on this study between Addiction Sciences and the School of Pharmacy represents the kind of translational research that bridges laboratory science with real-world clinical needs,” Davies stated. “By replicating complex overdose scenarios in the lab, Marshall University is advancing potential treatment strategies with direct relevance to West Virginia and beyond.”
Extra info:
Jyostna Yalakala et al, Co-administration of naloxone and atipamezole to concurrently reverse the acute results of fentanyl and xylazine in rats, Journal of Translational Analysis (2025). DOI: 10.1080/29947448.2025.2493044
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Researchers establish promising therapy for fentanyl-xylazine overdoses (2025, Might 20)
retrieved 21 Might 2025
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