Xylazine is an agonist at kappa opioid receptors and exhibits sex-specific responses to naloxone administration
Madigan L. Bedard, Jackson G. Murray, Xi‐Ping Huang, Alexandra C. Nowlan, Sara Y. Conley, Sarah E. Mott, Samuel J. Loyack, Calista A. Cline, Caroline G. Clodfelter, Nabarun Dasgupta, Bryan L. Roth, Zoé A. McElligott
This study shows xylazine acts as a kappa opioid receptor agonist and that naloxone induces withdrawal from xylazine and fentanyl/xylazine combinations, with greater sensitivity in females.
bioRxiv · Sep 8, 2023 · PreprintNeuroscience