Benzylfentanyl Explained
Benzylfentanyl should not be confused with Benzoylfentanyl.
Benzylfentanyl (R-4129) is a fentanyl analog.[1] It was temporarily placed in the US Schedule I by emergency scheduling in 1985 due to concerns about its potential for abuse as a designer drug, but this placement was allowed to expire and benzylfentanyl was formally removed from controlled substance listing in 2010, after the DEA's testing determined it to be "essentially inactive" as an opioid.[2] Benzylfentanyl has a Ki of 213 nM at the mu opioid receptor, binding around 1/200 as strong as fentanyl itself,[3] though it is still slightly more potent than codeine.[4]
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.[5]
Legal status
Benzylfentanyl is a List I chemical in the U.S..[6] Benzylfentanyl is illegal in Germany (Anlage I)
See also
Notes and References
- 2374405. 1990. Ruangyuttikarn. W. Law. MY. Rollins. DE. Moody. DE. Detection of fentanyl and its analogs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 14. 3. 160–4. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 10.1093/jat/14.3.160.
- http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2010/fr06292.htm Correction of Code of Federal Regulations: Removal of Temporary Listing of Benzylfentanyl and Thenylfentanyl as Controlled Substances
- http://content.lib.utah.edu/utils/getfile/collection/etd1/id/1285/filename/1341.pdf Utilization of a radioreceptor assay for the analysis of fentanyl analogs in urine
- Chen ZR, Irvine RJ, Somogyi AA, Bochner F . Mu receptor binding of some commonly used opioids and their metabolites . Life Sci. . 48 . 22 . 2165–71 . 1991 . 1851921 . 10.1016/0024-3205(91)90150-a.
- Fentanyls: Are we missing the signs? Highly potent and on the rise in Europe. . Jane Mounteney . Isabelle Giraudon . Gleb Denissov . Paul Griffiths . The International Journal of Drug Policy . July 2015 . 26 . 7 . 626–631 . 10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.04.003 . 25976511.
- 29932611. 2018. Drug Enforcement Administration. Department of Justice. Schedules of Controlled Substances:Temporary Placement of Fentanyl-Related Substances in Schedule I. Temporary amendment; temporary scheduling order. Federal Register. 83. 25. 5188–92.
