title: Systemic toxicity after an ocular exposure to xylazine hydrochloride.
abstract: There are limited reports of human overdose with the animal tranquilizer, xylazine hydrochloride. The reported effects include hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory depression. Ocular exposures to xylazine have not been previously reported. A 38-year-old man arrived in the Emergency Department, reporting the accidental irrigation of both eyes with approximately 8 mL of xylazine (100 mg/mL) 30 min before arrival. The patient was asymptomatic. The eyes were copiously irrigated with isotonic crystalloid. Two hours after the exposure, the patient developed sinus bradycardia (40-50 beats/min), hypotension (90/60 mm Hg), and a decreased level of consciousness. The patient was admitted for observation, during which the bradycardia and hypotension were noted to persist. He remained otherwise asymptomatic. The symptoms resolved without intervention, other than i.v. fluids, approximately 25 h after the exposure. The patient was discharged home. This case demonstrates that ocular exposure to xylazine can cause systemic central nervous system and cardiovascular effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, Section of Toxicology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8579, USA.
authors.forename: Larissa I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.forename: Greene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Wilfredo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rivera
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000506:poisoning*; D000328:Adult; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005131:Eye Injuries; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D019155:Veterinary Drugs / Q000506:poisoning; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D014991:Xylazine / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D019155:Veterinary Drugs; D014991:Xylazine