One emerging threat that you may have heard of is a sedative named xylazine, which is commonly known by the street name ‘tranq’. It is also known as a ‘zombie drug’. UK legislation has already been laid in Parliament to ban xylazine and a number of other emerging recreational drugs.
But what exactly is this emerging tranq drug, and what are the potential xylazine side effects associated with using it? Here we’ll look at the evidence and tell you everything you need to know about xylazine.
What Is Xylazine?
Xylazine is a non-opioid tranquiliser, pain reliever and central nervous system depressant that is approved for use in veterinary medicine. It is typically used during medical procedures on cattle, horses, dogs and cats. In humans, it can cause drowsiness, slow brain activity, relaxed muscles, and slow both heart rate and breathing.
Some people seek out Tranq for recreational use, but it is also increasingly appearing as an adulterant in ‘cut’ batches of drugs such as fentanyl, cocaine and heroin. Mixing substances in this way can serve both to enhance or alter the effects of the drug being sold and also to inflate the price by increasing the weight.
Recorded xylazine-related overdose deaths in the United States rose from 102 to 3,468 in the space of just three years between 2018 and 2021. However, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) says that it may be far more widespread than was currently suspected, as a number of jurisdictions across the country may not include xylazine in forensic laboratory or toxicology testing. The DEA notes that it can be particularly dangerous when combined with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, as both substances can affect respiratory function.
Xylazine for veterinary medicine usually comes in liquid form and may be contained in small vials. Illicit tranq can also be found in powdered form or as an ingredient in pills that may also contain other substances.
Health Risks and Side Effects
Xylazine is not approved for human use due to its potential side effects. These can include (but are not limited to):
- Slowed heart rate
- Blurred vision
- Central nervous system depression
- Sedation, drowsiness and disorientation
- Staggering
- Slowed or stopped breathing
- Lowered blood pressure
- Hypothermia (dangerous drop in body temperature)
- Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels)
- Pinpoint pupils
- Severe necrotic skin ulcerations
While xylazine misuse is relatively new and its effects are still being researched, there is evidence that xylazine addiction is an issue and that withdrawal symptoms can occur.
The sedative and disorienting effects of tranq, coupled with the non-healing skin lesions that some users experience, have led to it being characterised as a ‘zombie drug’ in the UK. As well as looking unpleasant, these lesions can lead to serious infections, and in some serious cases, complications could require surgery or amputation.
The effects on the central nervous system, and particularly the effects on the respiratory system, can be dangerous, and xylazine overdose can lead to unconsciousness, coma and death. As mentioned, combining xylazine with other depressants such as fentanyl, heroin and even alcohol can be very dangerous, as the slowed breathing and other effects can be cumulative.
Additionally, the effects of xylazine may be assumed to be an opioid overdose, especially if it is taken with opioid drugs like heroin or fentanyl. As xylazine is not actually an opioid, the ‘anti-overdose’ drug naloxone will not work if xylazine is the cause (although it may help if the overdose is a combination of xylazine and an opioid).
Xylazine’s Presence in the UK
It is difficult to know exactly how widespread xylazine UK usage is, but the drug is certainly available on the illicit drug market. The first documented death outside North America to be linked to xylazine involved a 43-year-old man from Solihull, West Midlands, in 2022. Researchers then found the presence of the drug in toxicology reports relating to 16 people, 11 of whom were fatal.
In the UK, the Home Office says xylazine has been used in combination with opioids such as heroin as “a cheap means of stretching out each dose”. It has also been found in cannabis vapes, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and counterfeit medications.
Xylazine was banned and classified as a Class C drug in January 2025, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Seeking Help and Treatment Options
Non-opioid tranquilisers and painkillers are sometimes preferred to opioid painkillers as they may be less physically addictive. In the case of xylazine, however, there is some evidence that users have developed a physical dependence. According to the DEA, some users have reported the withdrawal symptoms from xylazine as comparable to or more severe than those related to heroin or methadone, with symptoms including sharp chest pains and seizures.
Additionally, xylazine can have a lasting effect on the brain by changing the levels of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine. This change in neurotransmitter levels could have rewarding consequences that can lead to psychological addiction.
Need Support? Reach Out Today
As with other types of addiction, physical dependence and psychological addiction should both be addressed in order to achieve a full and long-lasting recovery. Physical dependency and withdrawal are best approached through a supervised detox process, while the psychological addiction and root causes of substance misuse will generally be treated via a range of evidence-based therapies.
There may also be other complications. In the case of xylazine, any skin ulcerations will require medical attention before any type of addiction rehab can begin. Many people struggling with addiction also experience mental health issues. Mental health conditions, substance misuse and addiction can all interact in complex ways, and it’s always best to address them all through dual diagnosis treatment if possible.
If you are worried about your own drug use or that of a loved one, get in touch today to find out how Asana Lodge can help.
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