The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System
(NJPIES) is alerting healthcare providers to an increasing number of patients
presenting with severe medetomidine withdrawal. Over the past month, cases have
been reported from hospitals across the state in which patients initially
treated for opioid withdrawal continued to deteriorate despite appropriate
opioid agonist therapy. These patients developed progressive and often profound
tachycardia, severe hypertension, tachypnea, tremor, muscle spasticity, and
altered mental status consistent with alpha-2 agonist withdrawal.
Please find attached to this alert two corresponding documents including one written statement from NJPIES explaining more in depth the details of the
increase in medetomidine withdrawal cases, and one document titled "Guidance for Managing Medetomidine Exposure" developed by Southern New Jersey Medication
for Addiction Treatment Center of Excellence (SNJMATCOE).
For any further questions, please e-mail Amanda Gan, New
Jersey Public Health Analyst, at Amanda.Gan@doh.nj.gov.
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