Isofentanyl Explained

Isofentanyl (3-methyl-benzylfentanyl) is an opioid analgesic that is an analog (and structural isomer) of fentanyl first invented in 1973,^[1] and which has been sold as a designer drug.^[2]

Side effects

Side effects of fentanyl analogs are similar to those of fentanyl itself, which include itching, nausea and potentially serious respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening. Fentanyl analogs have killed hundreds of people throughout Europe and the former Soviet republics since the most recent resurgence in use began in Estonia in the early 2000s, and novel derivatives continue to appear.^[3] A new wave of fentanyl analogues and associated deaths began in around 2014 in the US, and have continued to grow in prevalence; especially since 2016 these drugs have been responsible for hundreds of overdose deaths every week.^[4]

Legal status

As a structural isomer of fentanyl itself, isofentanyl is banned under drug analogue laws in many jurisdictions around the world. In the United States, fentanyl-related substances are Schedule I controlled substances.

See also

• 3-Methylfentanyl
• Benzylfentanyl
• α-Methylacetylfentanyl
• 4-Methylphenethylacetylfentanyl
• Homofentanyl
• Secofentanyl
• List of fentanyl analogues

Notes and References

1. Riley TN, Hale DB, Wilson MC . 4-Anilidopiperidine analgesics. I. Synthesis and analgesic activity of certain ring-methylated 1-substituted 4-propananilidopiperidines . Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences . 62 . 6 . 983–6 . June 1973 . 4712637 . 10.1002/jps.2600620627 .
2. Meyer MR, Dinger J, Schwaninger AE, Wissenbach DK, Zapp J, Fritschi G, Maurer HH . Qualitative studies on the metabolism and the toxicological detection of the fentanyl-derived designer drugs 3-methylfentanyl and isofentanyl in rats using liquid chromatography-linear ion trap-mass spectrometry (LC-MS(n)) . Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry . 402 . 3 . 1249–55 . January 2012 . 22065349 . 10.1007/s00216-011-5528-8 . 329682 .
3. Mounteney J, Giraudon I, Denissov G, Griffiths P . Fentanyls: Are we missing the signs? Highly potent and on the rise in Europe . The International Journal on Drug Policy . 26 . 7 . 626–31 . July 2015 . 25976511 . 10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.04.003 .
4. Armenian P, Vo KT, Barr-Walker J, Lynch KL . Fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and novel synthetic opioids: A comprehensive review . Neuropharmacology . 134. Pt A. October 2017 . 121–132 . 29042317 . 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.10.016 . 21404877 .