PHILADEPHIA – A powerful animal sedative, even stronger than xylazine, is rapidly becoming the most common additive in fentanyl, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Medetomidine, also known as “Rhino Tranq,” is not approved for human use and poses serious health risks, including slowed heart rate, dangerously low blood pressure, and central nervous system depression.
As of Jan. 2025, DEA testing shows that medetomidine is now more prevalent than xylazine in Philadelphia’s fentanyl supply. Nearly 90% of drug samples in the city contain the sedative, which is estimated to be 200 times more potent than xylazine.
As Emily’s Hope previously reported, medetomidine first started making headlines in May 2024, following a surge in overdoses in Chicago.