Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40777679›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Xylazine Withdrawal: A Case Report From the Intensive Care Unit to the Medical Ward.

Hsien Yi Yang, Cyrus Nensey

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Hsien Yi YangHospital Medicine, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA.
Cyrus NenseyHospital Medicine, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Xylazine is a centrally acting alpha-2 adrenergic agonist commonly used with fentanyl in illicit drug mixtures, yet its withdrawal profile remains poorly characterized. We report a case of a 35-year-old man with polysubstance use, significant for fentanyl with xylazine and bipolar disorder. He presented with seizure-like activity and agonal breathing, requiring intensive care unit admission. The patient's persistent hypertension, agitation, and autonomic dysregulation were inconsistent with typical opioid withdrawal or sepsis. Initial management with sedatives and multiple antihypertensives was ineffective. Agitation improved with dexmedetomidine, whereas blood pressure and autonomic control were achieved after initiation of a transdermal clonidine patch, followed by transition to oral clonidine with tapering. The adjunctive use of gabapentin, lacosamide, and quetiapine helped manage psychomotor agitation and generalized pain. The patient recovered to his baseline and was discharged to an outpatient rehabilitation program. This case highlights the importance of recognizing xylazine withdrawal as an independent toxidrome requiring targeted alpha-2 agonist therapy and supports evidence-based, multidisciplinary collaboration for symptom control and clinical stabilization.

Indexed as

acute pain managementfentanyl usehypertensionintensive care unitopioid withdrawalpersonalized addiction medicinepsychomotor agitationseizurexylazinexylazine withdrawal

Identifiers

PMID40777679
PMCPMC12331367

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.