Pentamorphone Explained

Pentamorphone (14β-pentylaminomorphinone, RX-77989) is a semi-synthetic opiate derivative related to compounds such as Morphinone and oxymorphone. Developed in 1984, it is a potent opioid analgesic several times stronger than fentanyl, and with a similarly fast onset of effects and short duration of action.^{[1] [2]} It was found to produce relatively little respiratory depression compared to other potent opioid agonists,^[3] but its analgesic effects were somewhat disappointing in human trials,^[4] and while pentamorphone had some slight advantages over fentanyl^[5] these were not sufficient to warrant its introduction into clinical use.

Notes and References

1. Glass PS, Camporesi EM, Shafron D, Quill T, Reves JG . Evaluation of pentamorphone in humans: a new potent opiate . Anesthesia and Analgesia . 68 . 3 . 302–7 . March 1989 . 10.1213/00000539-198903000-00021 . 2465708 . 35949040 .
2. Rudo FG, Wynn RL, Ossipov M, Ford RD, Kutcher BA, Carter A, Spaulding TC . Antinociceptive activity of pentamorphone, a 14-beta-aminomorphinone derivative, compared to fentanyl and morphine . Anesthesia and Analgesia . 69 . 4 . 450–6 . October 1989 . 10.1213/00000539-198910000-00005 . 2476953 . 6715423 . free .
3. Afifi MS, Glass PS, Cohen NA, Shook JE, Camporesi EM . Depression of ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia after pentamorphone . Anesthesia and Analgesia . 71 . 4 . 377–83 . October 1990 . 1698039 . 10.1213/00000539-199010000-00010 . 30738025 .
4. Wong HY, Parker RK, Fragen R, White PF . Pentamorphone for management of postoperative pain . Anesthesia and Analgesia . 72 . 5 . 656–60 . May 1991 . 10.1213/00000539-199105000-00015 . 1708214 . 30636072 .
5. Kelly WB, Howie MB, Romanelli VA, Duarte JA, Rezaei H, McSweeney TD . A comparison of pentamorphone and fentanyl in balanced anaesthesia during general surgery . Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia . 41 . 8 . 703–9 . August 1994 . 7522977 . 10.1007/BF03015625 . free .