Zoletil 50-induced mental and behavioral abnormalities: a case report and literature review
Frontiers in Psychology July 8, 2026 Yuanji Liu, S W Wang
A 22-year-old man who used the veterinary anesthetic Zoletil 50 (a mix of tiletamine and zolazepam) recreationally by insufflation about once or twice a week developed a 4-month history of low mood, loss of interest, and feelings of detachment from self and surroundings. After repeated use, he experienced acute episodes of intense panic, terror, rapid heartbeat, and palpitations lasting 30–60 minutes. The case suggests that recreational use of Zoletil 50 or tiletamine-containing e-cigarettes can lead to addiction, depressed mood, panic attacks, and other psychiatric symptoms, and overdose can be fatal.