Nitazenes: The New Fentanyl?

What are nitazenes?

Nitazenes are a class of synthetic opioid drugs first developed in the 1950s, but which were never made available for human or veterinary use due to safety concerns. For this reason, there is little scientific information about these drugs. Over 20 different nitazene compounds have been identified. Since 2019, there has been an increase in nitazene compounds found in the illicit drug supply and in blood samples of people who have overdosed, as well as in blood samples obtained at autopsy.  

Nitazene vs. fentanyl: What’s the difference?

Both nitazenes and fentanyl bind to opioid receptors in the brain and other parts of the body, resulting in euphoria that can lead to repeated use and addiction. Comparing fentanyl and nitazenes is a bit complicated. First of all, there many compounds that are related to fentanyl and nitazenes, and we often do not know what is in the illicit drug supply at any given time. Additionally, many of these compounds are not well studied because they have not been approved for human or veterinary use. Many people also use multiple drugs, or there could be other contaminants in the drug supply (e.g., xylazine), making it hard to distinguish the effects of any single drug.

The information we have at this time is that some nitazene compounds are more potent and longer-lasting than many fentanyl derivatives. Other nitazenes are actually less potent than fentanyl. It is important to know that often multiple drugs or chemicals are often found in the same product, including pills or powders. There is no way to know what compounds might be in the product without performing laboratory testing.   

How long does nitazene stay in your system?

There are many different nitazene compounds and there is little information about how long they last. This is because they are not approved for use and are not routinely tested for when someone presents with an overdose. What we do know is that some of the nitazenes may last longer than fentanyl, which can make overdoses more dangerous and harder to treat. 

What is a nitazene overdose?

A nitazene overdose is similar to an overdose with other opioids (e.g., fentanyl) in that people may be comatose and not breathing. The limited information we have suggests that symptoms of overdose may last longer with nitazenes, and they may not respond as well to the antidote naloxone. In addition, one study found that people who were hospitalized with overdoses involving nitazenes were more likely to have abnormal heart rhythms than with other opioids. 

What should I do if someone took nitazene?

If someone takes a nitazene, the most important thing to do is call 911 and get them immediate medical attention. In the meantime, if the person is not breathing, you can administer bystander naloxone if it is available. If the person does not have a pulse, you can also start CPR. 
Maryann Amirshahi, PharmD, MD, MPH, PhD
Medical Toxicologist 

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