Methylketobemidone

Methylketobemidone

Methylketobemidone is a potent opioid analgesic drug which is related to ketobemidone. It was developed in the 1950s during research into analogues of pethidine and was assessed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime but was not included on the list of drugs under international control, presumably because it was not used in medicine or illicitly in the 1950s and 1960s.

Chemistry

Methylketobemidone is part of the 4-phenylpiperidine class of opioids. It is structurally similar to ketobemidone, which is a 4-phenylpiperidine derivative that is approximately 25 times more potent than morphine in its analgesic effect. Methylketobemidone is the methylated derivative of ketobemidone, which increases its potency significantly.

Pharmacology

As an opioid, Methylketobemidone acts on the mu-opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord to provide analgesia. The exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve the inhibition of the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin, which can lead to an increase in the pain threshold and a reduction in the perception of pain.

Legal Status

Methylketobemidone is not currently controlled under the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, but it may be considered illegal in some countries under analogue laws due to its structural similarity to controlled substances such as ketobemidone and pethidine.

See Also

• Ketobemidone
• Pethidine
• Opioid
• Analgesic