Xylazine Stats & Data
Cc1cccc(C)c1NC=1SCCCN1BPICBUSOMSTKRF-UHFFFAOYSA-NPharmacology
DrugBankDescription
Xylazine is a clonidine analog which acts as an agonist at α2 adrenoceptors. Veterinarians also use xylazine as an emetic, especially in cats.
Measured Affinities
Guide to PHARMACOLOGYMeasured binding and functional data for xylazine, curated by the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY. Each row cites the paper it came from. Lower concentrations mean tighter binding — a value in the sub-nanomolar range indicates a very potent interaction.
| Target | Action | Measure | Value | Concentration | Species | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| α2B-adrenoceptor ADRA2B | Agonist | pIC50 | 7.7 | 19.95 nM | Human | PMID 36101495 |
| α2A-adrenoceptor ADRA2A | Agonist | pEC50 | 7.5 | 31.62 nM | Human | PMID 36101495 |
| α2B-adrenoceptor ADRA2B | Agonist | pEC50 | 7.4 | 39.81 nM | Human | PMID 36101495 |
| α2C-adrenoceptor ADRA2C | Agonist | pEC50 | 7.1 | 79.43 nM | Human | PMID 36101495 |
| α2C-adrenoceptor ADRA2C | Agonist | pIC50 | 6.8 | 158.49 nM | Human | PMID 36101495 |
| α2A-adrenoceptor ADRA2A | Agonist | pIC50 | 6.5 | 316.23 nM | Human | PMID 36101495 |
| α2B-adrenoceptor ADRA2B | Agonist | pEC50 | 6.4 | 398.11 nM | Human | PMID 36101495 |
| α2A-adrenoceptor ADRA2A | Agonist | pEC50 | 5.7 | 1,995 nM | Human | PMID 9605427 |
| α2A-adrenoceptor ADRA2A | Agonist | pEC50 | 5.1 | 7,943 nM | Human | PMID 36101495 |
| α2A-adrenoceptor ADRA2A | Partial agonist | pKi | — | — | Human | — |
| α2B-adrenoceptor ADRA2B | Agonist | pKi | — | — | Human | — |
| α2C-adrenoceptor ADRA2C | Agonist | pKi | — | — | Human | — |
Reading this. pKi, pEC50 and pIC50 are negative log molar values, so a higher number means a tighter interaction; the concentration column converts them for you. Values from non-human species are laboratory measurements and do not translate directly to human effect. Receptor affinity is not a dose — it describes what a molecule binds, not how much of it is safe to take.
Receptor data from the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (v2026.2), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Matched to this substance by InChIKey.
Toxicity
PubChemXylazine use can cause drowsiness, abnormally slow or absent breathing, low blood pressure, and a slow heart rate. A coma can develop and require the insertion of a breathing tube and hospitalization. Acute xylazine exposure can lead to severe central nervous system (CNS) depression, respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypotension, and, in extreme cases, cardiac arrest. Long-term use of xylazine-mixed illicit substances can result in cumulative toxic effects, e.g., chronic wounds and ulcers on the skin.
Tolerance & Pharmacokinetics
drugs.wikiNo tolerance chart. Our decay curves for these drugs were estimates, and a curve can make tolerance look longer-lasting than it is, which is the dangerous direction.
How fast tolerance to these drugs fades after a break has not been measured well enough to draw, so don't count on a dose you used to take still being safe: after time off, start with a much smaller amount and don't use alone. Mixing sedatives with each other, with alcohol or with opioids sharply raises the risk of a fatal overdose. If you've been using regularly, don't stop suddenly: withdrawal from benzodiazepines, alcohol or GHB/GBL can cause seizures or delirium, so get medical help to cut down gradually.
Sources: FRANK: benzodiazepines · Alcohol and Drug Foundation: GHB · FDA 2020: benzodiazepine boxed warning · FDA 2019: gabapentinoids and breathing · NHS: alcohol use disorder
Experience Report Analysis
ErowidDemographics
Gender Distribution
Too few reports for a chart: gender is known from 5 reports, and a split is drawn only from 20 reports or more. Counts are shown instead. Why 20?
- Male 4 of 5
- Not Specified 1 of 5
Age Distribution
Reports Over Time
Form / Preparation
Most common forms and preparations, as a share of the 3 reports that give one
Too few reports for bars: these forms come from 3 reports, and a bar is drawn only from 20 reports or more. With fewer, a percentage cannot tell a common effect from a rare one. Counts are shown instead. Why 20?
- Liquid 2 of 3