Episode 46: The Kappa Hypothesis - Medetomidine, Dysphoria, and Hallucinations

This week on The Tox Lab, we’re discussing medetomidine and its unexpected association with hallucinations.We review a recent paper highlighting its emergence in the drug supply and the apparent increase in hallucinatory effects reported with its use. Although medetomidine has been linked to reducing post-operative delirium, we also discuss a case report of dexmedetomidine-induced delirium in a patient with schizophrenia — adding to the complexity of this picture. And yes, we even wonder what dogs might be dreaming about when they come round from their vet visit.We then explore a possible mechanism for these effects, including the hypothesis that activity at the kappa opioid receptor could play a role.We'd love to hear your thoughts on this, so please get in touch!Hope you enjoy!Links to the papers we discussed:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.70024https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11312422/Disclaimer: All opinions are our own.Find us on instagram: @the_tox_labEmail us here: [email protected]