Posted: 3/9/2016
North Texas Poison Center experts warn about using U-47700
A dangerous new drug readily available through the Internet has surfaced in the Dallas area and experts at the North Texas Poison Center at Parkland Health & Hospital System are alerting the public about its potentially fatal effects.
The drug, U-47700, has resulted in the hospitalization of at least two North Texans, including one who is in an area Intensive Care Unit. U-47700 is a synthetic opioid that has been around since the 1970s but in recent months has gained popularity through Internet websites and forum discussions.
“We’ve had calls recently from people concerned about this new drug,” said Kristina Domanski, MD, a toxicologist with the North Texas Poison Center. “In one situation, four young adults used U-47700 at a party and while two of the people were fine, two others had to be hospitalized. One of them ended up in an ICU with respiratory depression.”
Respiratory depression, also known as hypoventilation, is a potentially life-threatening condition that can be brought on by the use of strong opioids. Dr. Domanski said that in the recent case, the young people who used the drug had snorted it, thinking it would have the same effect as cocaine but instead it had an effect similar to heroin.
“This seems to be a pretty new recycling of the drug which is intended as a research drug and not for use in humans,” Dr. Domanski said. “Overdose deaths have been reported in Europe and both Sweden and Finland have made U-47700 illegal.”
Over the Internet the drug is usually sold as a powder or granules. Potential side effects, including overdose reactions, are similar to other opiates and include slow breathing and pinpoint pupils, according to Dr. Domanski. Very high doses could lead to coma and eventually death.
In the U.S., advertisements for the drug can be found online with prices ranging from $65 to $200. U-47700 is reported to be 7.5 times more potent than morphine and health experts urge people to avoid this drug and any other recreational drug being sold online.
“You never really know what you are buying when you purchase something online, especially from an overseas vendor,” Dr. Domanski said. “People should use extreme caution.”
For more information about poison concerns, visit www.poisoncontrol.org. In an emergency, or if you have any questions about a potential poisoning, please call 1.800.222.1222, which is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.