Desomorphine, commonly known as krokodil, is a codeine derived opiate. It's has gained popularity due to the very crudely made product in Russia where it is synthesized with iodine and red phosphorus. This form of the drug is an extremely toxic and dangerous substance. Very popular for it's flesh eating properties. The drug will usually only consume muscle tissue. Therefore when a user injects the drug and misses a vein the drug then eats away at the muscle tissue.
The drug was first pattented in 1932 it was originally a derivative of morphine but the recent popularity it has gained since 2010 in Russia, the drug has been being derived from codeine. The drug in the United states is a schedule one drug meaning it has no medical value which leaves with other drugs such as heroin MDMA and marijuana.
The drugs similarity to morphine suggests that it is a potent mu opioid agonist. The drugs effects are said to be most similar to diacetylmorphine aka heroin, but is said to have a much shorter duration. The addiction potential for the drug is obviously high just like any opiate is. As for the safety of the drug, the Russian street form of the drug is just absolutely abysmal. This form of the drug is absolutely not safe for human consumption... the drug is known for its flesh eating effects when injected into muscle tissue. As for the pharmaceutical grade desomorphine, safety is debatable, it's about as safe as heroin is. Pharmaceutical heroin for that matter, which when taken at medical doses when prescribed by a doctor is relatively safe. Of course it is only used medically in certain countries. But of course the recreational safety is about a 2 out of 10. I think I will use this scale from now on to evaluate the recreational and medical safety of a drug. Though in no way am I condoning or trying to justify the recreational use of these substances I am just giving my opinion on the safety. These substances are dangerous and addictive and are in no way a good thing.
Do I see any medical value in desomorphine? Yes I do actually I see that if it's regulated to only be in hospitals in can be used in a similar fashion in which we use drugs such as morphine, hydromorphone, and oxycodone right now.
As for the recreational use. I dont reccomend it. I HIGHLY advise against. I know I've said this but this drug on the street is extremely dangerous. Extremely deadly and addictive.
The following is directly from the erowid website (the link for the vault for desomorphine will be at the bottom of the post) this is for all the chemistry enthusiasts out there. I myself am not a chemist so you can have fun looking at all the complicated formulas and what not :).
From the Merck Index 12th Edition
2972. Desomorphine. 4,5a-Epoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3-ol; dihydrodesoxymorphine-D; Permonid. C17H21N02; mol wt 271.36. C 75.25%. H 7.80%. N 5.16%. O 11.79%. Synthesis. physical data: L. F. Small et al., J. Am. Chern. Soc. 55, 3863 (1933).
Rectangular plates from acetone-water. Sublimes in high vacuum between 140C and 170C. (Anhydr base mp 189C). [alpha]28/D - 77C (c = 1.6 in methanol). Sol in acetone. ethyl acetate. Alcoholic solns darken and acquire a reddish color.
Hemihydrate, crystals from ethyl acetate. mp 162-164C. [alpha]28/D - 79C (c = 1.08 in ethyl acetate).
Hydrochloride. C17H21N02.HCl, crystals from alcohol. [alpha]27/D -67C (c = 0.90). Very soluble in water.
Hydrogen sulfate dihydrate. (C17H21N02) 2 .H2S04.2H20. scales. plates from water, brown at 210C, unmelted at 230C. Sol in 40 parts water; freely sol in hot water. Soln is stable to boiling. [alpha]29/D - 60C (c = 1.43).
Note: This is a controlled substance (opium derivative) listed in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21 Part 1308. II (J 995). THERAP CAT: Analgesic (narcotic).
Sources:
https://www.erowid.org/chemicals/desomorphine/desomorphine.shtml
Tomorrows post will be on alprazolam aka xanax.
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