XYLAZINE TOXICITY - LITERATURE-REVIEW AND REPORT OF 2 CASES

Xylazine is a veterinary sedative, analgesic or general anesthetic. It s pharmaceutical action results in sympathetic discharge via stimulati on of alpha-2-adrenoceptors. In humans, toxicity consists of central n ervous system depression, bradycardia and hypotension. The dosages kno wn to produce toxicity in humans vary from 40 mg up to 2400 mg. Becaus e of decomposition, xylazine blood concentrations in two homicide vict ims were unknown; however, the concentrations in the brain, liver, and kidneys were much higher in the 23-year-old female versus the 33-year -old male victim. A bottle of xylazine found on the crime scene had a concentration of 100 mg/mL. This 50 mL bottle had 32 mL remaining. The refore at some point in time 18 mL had been utilized. The amount of av ailable milligrams of xylazine (1800 mg) were enough to cause toxicity in both the woman and the mao. Of interest was the fact that the part ially skeletonized heads were found remote from the torsos, however, t he concentration of xylazine in the body tissues provided a toxicologi cal match of which head belonged to which body. Xylazine toxicity in h umans and its relationship to these homicides will be the focus of thi s report.