This fact sheet has been developed to support the community to know the signs of an overdose and to appropriately respond to an overdose in which xylazine is involved.
Xylazine is a veterinary sedative and central nervous system depressant that is sometimes found in the unregulated drug supply, often mixed with opioids or other substances. It can produce sedation, relaxation, and lowered heart rate. At higher doses, or when combined with other depressants, xylazine can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
Signs of overdose:
Xylazine slows brain and nervous system activity. High doses can depress consciousness, breathing, and heart rate, and reduce the body’s natural reflexes. Overdose can lead to unconsciousness, coma, brain damage, or death.
Signs of xylazine overdose can include:
- No response to stimuli
- Shallow, slow, or stopped breathing
- A person can seem like they are sleeping but can’t be woken up
- Slurred speech or loss of coordination
- Grey/ashen or olive-green lips if a person has a dark skin tone; blue lips if a person has a pale skin tone
- Cold or clammy skin
- Floppy or rigid body
- Vomiting
If you cannot get a response from someone, do not assume they are asleep. Deep unresponsiveness, slow breathing, or loss of coordination are common signs of xylazine overdose. Do not let people at risk ‘sleep it off’.
Overdose response:
Sometimes serious complications from xylazine overdose can develop quickly. Immediate action could save a life. If you think someone has overdosed, knowing how to respond is crucial:
- Follow the DRS ABCD order of first aid. Before you act, check for Dangers.
- Check for a response (AVPU consciousness scale – Alert, respond to Voice prompt, responds to Pain prompt-only, or Unconscious).
- Send for help by calling an ambulance. Stay on the line with emergency services.
- Put the person in the recovery position to protect the airway or, if a person is trained and comfortable doing so, apply first aid including rescue Breaths, CPR/Compressions, Defibrillation.
- Keep monitoring vital signs closely; xylazine overdose can recur even after partial recovery.
⚠️ Note: Naloxone does not reverse xylazine overdose. Emergency medical help is essential.