04/04/2026
Naloxone is still highly effective at reversing an opioid overdose 💜 but if medetomidine ( a sedative) is in the mix the person may not "wake up" like you might expect. This does not mean you need to administer more naloxone (the goal is to get a person breathing normally once again)❗️ but it does mean someone should monitor them until the medetomidine wears off and to watch for signs of respiratory or cardiac arrest. 👩⚕️Calling 911 post overdose is the safest thing you can do so medical professionals can assess and treat if necessary.
Medetomidine can also cause very severe withdrawal symptoms and requires special treatment in the hospital. Please tell medical professionals or your treatment and recovery specialists if you know you have been ingesting medetomidine so proper treatment can be administered and recognized sooner. Stay safe out there folks!
CDC health advisory warns of increasing reports of medetomidine (“rhino tranq,” “mede,” “dex”) in illegal fentanyl. Detections rose from 247 in 2023 to 8,233 in 2025, primarily in the Northeast and Midwest. Medetomidine is a sedative not approved for human use and can cause severe health risks and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. CDC has issued recommendations for public health professionals, clinicians, laboratorians, and people at risk for overdose: https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00527.html
