Alphamethadol Explained

Alphamethadol should not be confused with Alphacetylmethadol.

Alphamethadol (INN), or α-methadol, also known as alfametadol, is a synthetic opioid analgesic.^[1] It is an isomer of dimepheptanol (methadol), the other being betamethadol (β-methadol).^[2] Alphamethadol is composed of two isomers itself, L-α-methadol, and D-α-methadol. Both of alphamethadol's isomers bind to and activate the μ-opioid receptor and are active as opioid analgesics,^[3] similarly to those of alphacetylmethadol (α-acetylmethadol).^[4]

Legal status

Australia

Alphamethadol is considered a Schedule 9 prohibited substance in Australia under the Poisons Standard (February 2017).^[5] A Schedule 9 substance is a substance which may be abused or misused, the manufacture, possession, sale or use of which should be prohibited by law except when required for medical or scientific research, or for analytical, teaching or training purposes with approval of Commonwealth and/or State or Territory Health Authorities.

See also

• Dimepheptanol
• Betamethadol
• Alphacetylmethadol

Notes and References

1. Book: British Pharmacopoeia Commission . British Approved Names 2002 . 15 May 2012 . 1 February 2002 . The Stationery Office . 978-0-11-322558-3 . 9.
2. Book: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime . Dictionnaire Multilingue Des Stupéfiants Et Des Substances Psychotropes Placés Sous Contrôle International . 15 May 2012 . 2006 . United Nations Publications . 978-92-1-048117-5 . 103.
3. Horng JS, Smits SE, Wong DT . The binding of the optical isomers of methadone, alpha-methadol, alpha-acetylmethadol and their N-demethylated derivatives to the opiate receptors of rat brain . Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology . 14 . 4 . 621–9 . August 1976 . 60774 .
4. Newman JL, Vann RE, May EL, Beardsley PM . Heroin discriminative stimulus effects of methadone, LAAM and other isomers of acetylmethadol in rats . Psychopharmacology . 164 . 1 . 108–14 . October 2002 . 12373424 . 10.1007/s00213-002-1198-8 . 19815273 .
5. Poisons Standard October 2015 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L00057