Nalorphine

Nalorphine
Clinical data
Trade namesLethidrone, Nalline
Other namesN-Allylnormorphine
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
  • 17-allyl-7,8-didehydro-4,5α-epoxymorphinan-3,6α-diol
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.000.497
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC19H21NO3
Molar mass311.381 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O[C@H]2\C=C/[C@H]5[C@@H]4N(CC[C@@]51c3c(O[C@H]12)c(O)ccc3C4)C\C=C
  • InChI=1S/C19H21NO3/c1-2-8-20-9-7-19-12-4-6-15(22)18(19)23-17-14(21)5-3-11(16(17)19)10-13(12)20/h2-6,12-13,15,18,21-22H,1,7-10H2/t12-,13+,15-,18-,19-/m0/s1 Y
  • Key:UIQMVEYFGZJHCZ-SSTWWWIQSA-N Y
  (verify)

Nalorphine (INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name; also known as N-allylnormorphine; brand names Lethidrone and Nalline) is a mixed opioid agonist–antagonist with opioid antagonist and analgesic properties. It was introduced in 1954 and was used as an antidote to reverse opioid overdose and in a challenge test to determine opioid dependence.

Nalorphine was the second opioid antagonist to be introduced, preceded by nalodeine (N-allylnorcodeine) in 1915 and followed by naloxone in 1960 and naltrexone in 1963. Due to potent activation of the κ-opioid receptor, nalorphine produces side effects such as dysphoria, anxiety, confusion, and hallucinations, and for this reason, is no longer used medically.