PDEA warns public vs etomidate-laced vaping products

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The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday warned the public against the misuse of etomidate, a short-acting intravenous anesthetic that has been detected in seized vaping products.

In an advisory, PDEA said etomidate is a legitimate medical drug used in hospitals to induce general anesthesia but warned that using it without medical supervision can pose serious health risks.

These include rapid sedation, hypnosis, loss of consciousness, involuntary muscle movements, and potentially dangerous respiratory and cardiovascular effects.

Aside from illicit vaping products, etomidate has also been detected in other forms such as tablets, powders, and crystals.

"Etomidate is a powerful medical drug, not a recreational substance. Putting it into vape products creates serious and unpredictable risks, particularly for young people who may not know what they are inhaling," said Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, director general of the PDEA.

Illicit etomidate-containing vaping products have reportedly been marketed under street names such as "space oil," "zombie vapes," and "Kpods."

Several territories in the region such as Singapore, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan have implemented control measures in response to the non-medical use of etomidate, PDEA said.

Nerez urged the public not to experiment with or share suspicious vaping products.

"We urge the public: do not experiment, do not share, and do not assume that a product is safe simply because it looks like a regular vape," he said.

PDEA urged anyone who develops unusual or severe symptoms after using an unidentified or suspected drug-containing vaping product to seek immediate medical attention. — VDV, GMA News