Heroin Adulterated with Diabetes Medication Triggers Life-Threatening Medical Emergencies

Medical researchers have identified a dangerous and deceptive trend in the illicit drug market after two nondiabetic patients were admitted to intensive care with life-threatening hypoglycemia following heroin use. The cases, occurring years apart but linked by the same rare clinical presentation, reveal that heroin supplies are being contaminated with glipizide, a potent prescription medication traditionally used to treat type 2 diabetes.

The study, “ Two cases (a decade apart) of severe sulfonylurea-positive hypoglycemia associated with inhaled heroin use ,”recently published in JCEM Case Reports , details how both patients arrived at the hospital in critical condition, suffering from altered mental status and “seizure-like” movements. In both instances, blood glucose levels had plummeted to dangerously low levels — under 40 mg/dL — despite neither patient having a history of diabetes or access to glucose-lowering medications.

Laboratory analysis eventually confirmed that the patients were suffering from unintentional sulfonylurea poisoning. Sulfonylureas, such as glipizide, work by stimulating the pancreas to release massive, sustained amounts of insulin.